Alcoa has a new long-term contract to supply aluminum sheet and plate materials to Embraer S.A. for its new E-Jets E2 regional aircraft, which are scheduled for a commercial debut in 2018. The agreement, reportedly worth $470 million, will make Alcoa the exclusive supplier of wing skins and fuselage sheet material.
Alcoa described the agreement as a multi-year contract, though the specific terms were not released.
The Embraer E-Jet E2 series is a series of narrow-body, medium-range, twin-engine jets developed to replace the Brazilian OEM’s current E-Jet family, and to improve fuel-efficiency with larger jet engines. Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G geared turbofan engines are the power source. Embraer developed the new series to replace its current E-Jet design, and promises 16-24% lower fuel burn and 15-25% lower maintenance cost, per seat.
In May, Embraer completed a successful first flight for the E190-E2 aircraft, the midsized variant in the E-Jets E2 series.
Alcoa noted it also is supplying a variety of aluminum parts to Pratt & Whitney for those new engines, including a proprietary forged fan blade.
Other Alcoa products will be used to form wing ribs, fuselage frames and structural parts of the aircraft, are also part of the contract, and will be featured on the E2 as well as Embraer’s KC-390 military transport aircraft and executive jets.
Alcoa’s aerospace business is due to form part of Arconic, the new entity that will be formed once the business separates its upstream and downstream operations later this year.
“Our partnership with Embraer is rooted in constant innovation and this contract is further proof of that strength,” stated Mark Vrablec, president of Alcoa’s Aerospace & Automotive Products business. “Our patented alloys enable us to support our customer’s game-changing E2 program, and we’re proud that Alcoa will fly with Embraer.”
