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Tokyo, Japan—the Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced
that it would supply Airbus with new prepreg materials to be used
initially in the production of A380 belly fairing parts. The
material is currently undergoing qualification at Airbus' Getafe
plant (Spain). Already the exclusive supplier of the A380
water and waste tanks, Yokohama Rubber began delivering the tanks
earlier this month. The company plans to utilize the delivery
of these products as a foothold for expanding its business with
Airbus.
A fairing is the streamlined cover used to protect
the whole "belly", the part between the main wings of
an aircraft. The belly fairing is made with light, high strength
FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) material. The prepreg is a
layered material with its core being special fiber impregnated with
epoxy resin. An FRP material is made by molding and thermosetting
multi-layered prepreg material. Yokohama Rubber plans to supply
the A380 with a prepreg material using carbon fiber and introduce
a non-solvent process into the prepreg production line to reduce
the burden on the environment.
Yokohama Rubber is a world-class manufacturer
of automotive tires and a leading company in the Japanese aircraft
components industry. It manufactures prepreg materials using
carbon and glass fiber for belly fairings, flaps, elevators and
other aircraft components.
With 555 passenger seats, the A380 is the world's
first full twin-deck, super-large aircraft scheduled to enter service
in 2006 after its planned maiden flight in the spring of 2005.
Airbus has already received orders for 139 A380 aircraft.
For more information contact:
Kelly Stolle
Tel: 253-893-0130
Email: kelly.stolle@yaainc.com
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