Waikato Aviation Cluster Secures Aluminum Heat Treatment Plant
The Waikato Aviation Cluster has provided a 50% contribution of $50,000 to Pacific Aerospace to establish suitable aluminum heat treatment capabilities within the cluster.
The equipment has been installed at Pacific Aerospace with 50% of capacity available for other Waikato aircraft manufacturers.
Waikato Aviation Cluster Board Chairman, John Jones, says this equipment removes a huge barrier to growth for the local industry.
“Heat treatment which strengthens and hardens metal is a critical step in the manufacture of aircraft. However, the Waikato aircraft manufacturing industry is not well catered for in the area of aluminium heat treatment.
“Not having such facilities locally is a major constraint for current members as well as an impediment to attracting other manufacturers to the region,” explains Mr Jones.
Alf McLaughlin General Manager Production for Pacific Aerospace explained that 24 months ago the demand for its P‐750 XSTOL 10‐seat utility aircraft exceeded the company’s capability to produce. It identified one of the major constraints keeping the company from increasing production was the fact that it did not have a facility large enough to heat treat its larger components.
McLaughlin, says “in cooperation with the Waikato Aviation Cluster and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, we identified an unused air furnace available for purchase. The new furnace is now fully commissioned and operating in our facilities and has the capacity to allow us to increase our production rate, while offering surplus capacity to the general aviation market in the Waikato and other areas of New Zealand.
“This initiative shows what can be achieved when two parties with similar aspirations work together to solve a problem that also affects third parties,” explains Mr McLaughlin.
Cluster Chairman John Jones comments that “having this facility in the region is going to achieve increased production efficiency for several companies as they gain access to the furnace. Equally as important, the Waikato Aviation Cluster believes having this heat treatment facility in the Waikato will put us in a great position to attract other manufacturers.”
‐ENDS
Media Contacts:
Damian Camp
CEO
Pacific Aerospace Limited
dcamp@aerospace.co.nz
07 843 6144
John Jones, Chairman
Waikato Aviation Cluster
CEO of CTC Aviation NZ Ltd
John.jones@ctcaviation.com
O275 367 359
Heather Claycomb
HMC Communications
021 751 051
heather@hmc‐communications.co.nz
