MARKNESSE - Fokker and the Netherlands' National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) are opening a manufacturing plant in Marknesse in the Netherlands for composite aircraft components. The plant will produce composite landing gear components, while also developing new manufacturing techniques for high-performance composites. Other companies that develop composites will also be able to use the facility for materials testing and the automation of production processes.
The Automated Composite Manufacturing (ACM) Pilot Plant will focus on producing composites reinforced with industrial resins. The new facility derives from a Public-Private Partnership between Fokker Landing Gear and the NLR, in close collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the province of Flevoland, and the Noordoostpolder municipality.
Frank Mulders, Managing Director of Fokker Landing Gear, said, "This automated pilot plant works on state-of-the art production processes. For Fokker, as a supplier to the global aviation industry, and also for other Dutch companies, this is an important step on the way to the sustainable production of composite components in the Netherlands."