With the support from Investe SP, Airship confirms factory in São Carlos
The project involves an investment of R$ 200 million, generating 270 direct jobs and could revolutionize cargo transportation in Brazil
Investe São Paulo
On September 19th, the municipality of São Carlos entered into a memorandum of understanding with Airship do Brasil – a partnership between the groups Engevix and Transportes Bertolini, for the production of cargo airships in the city.
The project, which relies on the support of Investe São Paulo – an investment promotion agency associated with the Department of Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation – consists of the installation of a plant covering 20,000 square meters, which is expected to generate 270 direct jobs, with an investment of approximately R$ 200 million.
The plant, to be built on an area covering 49 hectares, bordering Washington Luiz Highway (SP-310), will manufacture airships and other solutions using lighter than air (LTA) technologies.
The airships will be capable of flying at an altitude of 150 meters at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour, carrying also large parts, such as parts of high-voltage towers. The inauguration of the plant is planned for 2016.
The project has been assisted by Investe São Paulo since September 2013. “We have assisted the company to obtain environmental permits and in tax issues, and intermediated the funding request to The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), which will be granted via Desenvolve São Paulo, the State Government Funding Agency,” said the Investe São Paulo president, Luciano Almeida.
“We are aware of the importance of this project for the improvement of logistics in the State of São Paulo and the quality of jobs that will be generated. That is why all investments related to the aerospace sector are handled with priority by our team,” said Almeida.
The event was attended by Guy Rocha, administrative manager of Airship, and Paulo Altomani, mayor of São Carlos, and Alexandre Marx, Project Manager of Investe São Paulo and several other officers and municipal authorities.
“São Carlos has the capacity to generate skilled labor that will be essential to the success of our project, which mainly depends on the multiplicity of Engineering areas available at the Higher Education Centers of the city. It will be an honor to contribute to the development of the city,” said the general manager of Airship, Guy Rocha.
The construction works of the plant began in October 2014 and the operations are expected to start by the second half of 2016. The first orders of airships have already been made by Eletronorte, which will receive the products in 2016. They will be used for the transportation of passengers, equipment and energy towers in remote areas of the Amazon.
Airship will produce different types of airships and aerostats in São Carlos, which can be delivered mainly to logistics and transportation companies all over the country. The company was granted a loan totaling R$ 102.7 million from BNDES for the development of the vehicles.
The airships are equipment that adapt to the transportation of large volumes and are ideal going into inaccessible places, such as the pre-salt platforms or isolated areas. In addition, the product can be used as a mobile antenna or to optimize the transmission of information.
The product is filled with non-flammable helium gas for flotation and diesel in four engines. With the airships, a trip between Manaus and Goiânia would take 26 hours; while by truck it could take eight days.
The first models produced can carry up to 54 tons in containers, which is equivalent to two trucks, but the idea is that this volume reaches 500 tons in the future.
The crew will include four people and the autonomy of flight can vary from two to six months without refueling. The material used for the vehicle is carbon fiber, which makes it 80% lighter than airships that flew during the 1930s.
About Airship Brazil
Airship do Brasil Indústria Aeronáutica Ltda. is specialized in the development, manufacture, commercialization and operation of aircraft and solutions using lighter than air (LTA) technologies.
Located in São Carlos – São Paulo – ADB is a 100% Brazilian company owned by Groups ENGEVIX and Transportes Bertolini. It is recognized for incorporating the latest technologies in its projects. The company also has an office of institutional relations in the city of Brasília, DF.
Focused on the development of lighter-than-air equipment intended for cargo transportation, infrastructure patrolling, sensing and monitoring services, Airship also offers logistics support, security, surveillance, advertising, airborne geophysics, meteorology and environmental services .