WEATHERSFIELD RTI lands deal with European aircraft maker
The new contract is expected to move RTI into position as the second-largest supplier to Airbus.
By CYNTHIA VINARSKY
VINDICATOR BUSINESS WRITER
WEATHERSFIELD -- RTI International Metals has landed a new contract with Europe's largest aerospace group, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co., to supply titanium products and parts for new aircraft manufacture through 2004.
RTI, parent of RMI Titanium in Weathersfield Township, said its titanium products will be used in military aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, and in Airbus civil aircraft.
Eurofighter Typhoon is a multinational effort by a number of European nations to produce a leading edge fighter aircraft. In the works since the 1970s, the Eurofighter project includes Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The contract continues RTI's long-term involvement in the EADS military and Airbus programs, the company said.
RTI's role
In addition to mill products, RTI will supply cut, shaped and machined items direct to EADS and Airbus manufacturing plants in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, shipping from its value-added processing facilities in Europe.
RTI said the contract is expected to make the Weathersfield-based company the second largest titanium supplier to Airbus. Airbus, based in France, and Boeing, another major RTI customer, are the world's largest airplane manufacturers.
RTI officials were in Houston attending the company's annual shareholder meeting Friday and could not be reached to comment on the new contract.
The company has been the sole owner of a French processing and distributing plant since December, 2000, when it bought all the outstanding shares of Reamet S.A. of Villette, France, for $4 million. RTI had previously owned 40 percent of the company.
RTI also has a distribution and fabrication plant in England and sales offices in Germany and Italy. All the titanium used by the French Reamet plant is produced at RMI's titanium plant in Weathersfield. Reamet processes the titanium before it is shipped to the customer.
vinarsky@vindy.com