Atkins helps Airbus A350 XWB take flight

Atkins has been awarded a contract by Airbus Operations GbmH (Bremen) to design composite components for the inboard flap of the new A350 XWB aircraft.

The win is a key step in the development of Atkins’ business across Europe and recognition for the company’s composites expertise.

Neil Kirk, Managing Director of Atkins’ Aerospace business, said of the project win:
‘This project is particularly exciting because it’s an opportunity for Atkins to demonstrate that we’re leading in the design and analysis of composite materials and contributing to improved fuel efficiency.’
'For me, working on the design of the A350 XWB is a ringing endorsement from our client of our technical excellence.’

Wim van Beinum, Managing Director for operations in Germany and the Netherlands, added:
‘This project win follows on from our work developing Atkins’ Aerospace business across Europe and will help us strengthen our key client relationship with Airbus Operations GbmH (Bremen).’

The A350XWB is Airbus’ next passenger aircraft; it is currently in the design phase and scheduled to come into service in 2013. The innovative design of the A350 XWB includes up to 52% composite materials, rather than traditional metallics, and will be the first aircraft to have a wing made entirely of composites. Increasing quantities of composite materials are being used by aerospace engineers because they offer potentially significant improvements in strength to weight ratios, and therefore can help improve an aircraft’s environmental impact.

Atkins acquired the Amsterdam-based company Nedtech Engineering in 2007 and last year also opened an office in Hamburg to ensure it is geographically close to its clients in Germany.

The whole press release is available in: English / Nederlands / Deutsch

Atkins Nedtech is focused on the aerospace industry, by providing specialists in design and structural analysis. It has a distinguished record in aerospace engineering and excellent relationships with Airbus, Rolls Royce, Stork Fokker, DutchAero and other major aerospace companies across The Netherlands and Germany.

The aim of the company is to be the key player for design, integration and analysis of airframe and aero-engine components, modules and systems.

The company demonstrates world-class expertise for recognised internal aerospace organisations by performing innovative and complex multidisciplinary projects in-house.

Currently Atkins Nedtech employs about 60 engineers; the aim of the company is to grow the coming three years to approximately 100 engineers. Atkins Nedtech is based in Hoofddorp.

CATIA V4 & V5, UNIGRAPHICS NX, MSC/PATRAN, MSC/NASTRAN, FEMAP, ESACRACK, MATHCAD, CAD-interfaces and IT-links for secure and fast data transfer and communication.

Nedtech Engineering B.V. is established in 1999 by managing director Wim van Beinum, ex Fokker Aircraft Head of Airframe Development. Nedtech Engineering was located in Uithoorn and the first employees were mainly ex-Fokker Design & Stress engineers. During the years the company began to grow in the number of employees and in August 2005 the company moved from Uithoorn to the current location in Hoofddorp.
In December 2007 Nedtech Engineering B.V. was acquired by the English company Atkins. Nowadays the trading name is ‘Atkins Nedtech’.

Atkins
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