Aernnova assembles development center in Brazil
Valor Econômico
The perspective of taking part in projects such as that of the Bullet Train and the jet fighters of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), besides the nearness to its main client, Embraer, have been decisive for the Spanish group Aernnova Engineering to decide bringing one unit of its international center of development of engineering projects to Brazil. The goal of the company, according to its CEO Adel Ben-Smida, is to make the Brazilian center a base of technology development for Latin America. The project is already being put into practice with the hiring of a team of Brazilian 15 engineers and technicians, six of which have already received training in the engineering centers of the company in Spain and in the United States.
According to the Executive, the first contract of Aernnova Engenharia do Brasil was signed with Avibrás Aeroespacial, but the company is already working on several other projects of development, including in the car sector. The plans of Aernnova Engenharia also include partnerships with Brazilian universities in the areas of research and development in composite material, the specialty of the Spanish group. "We have already entered into a partnership with the University of Taubaté (Unitau) and we are starting conversations with the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA)", he explained.
The new undertaking has been installed at the plant of Aernnova do Brasil, in São José dos Campos. The unit went into operation in 2004 with the manufacture of structural parts for the Embraer jets. Aernnova, formerly called Gamesa, has been an Embraer risk partner since 1993 and it participates in the programs of the ERJ-145 jets, supplying the wings and of the 170/190, with the production of the rear fuselage and tail.
Embraer, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Aernnova, is one of the main clients of the Spanish group in the world, responsible for nearly 40% of its earnings that reached nearly € 490 million in 2008. According to the Executive, the nearness of the area of development was one of the claims of Embraer, because it facilitates the work of the area of engineering.
The participation of the engineering activity in the sales of the company, according to an annual report published by the company, represents more than 25% of the value of Aernnova. The areas of product and systems engineering and manufacturing engineering are among the main activities of the Engineering Division of the company.