Delivering high lift leading-edge efficiency

Asco Industries is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-lift structures, complex mechanical assemblies and major structural components for the aerospace industry. The company provides some of the world’s most innovative avionics solutions to the world’s biggest aircraft OEMs and was recently awarded another long-term contract with Boeing. Today Asco continues to expand its product portfolio and technological capabilities. Philip Yorke reports.

Asco Industries is a proven technology specialist and supply-chain integrator in design, development, precision machining, processing, certified assembly and MRO of complex high-value aircraft components. The company is also a global leader in the development, manufacture, treatment and assembly of steel and titanium highprecision components for the aerospace industry. Its product portfolio includes wing-flap actuation systems, engine mounts and landing gear components. It was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Zaventum, Belgium.

Today the company operates from four key locations – Belgium, Canada, the USA and Germany – with over 1500 employees and a turnover that exceeds €250 million. Asco also produces more than 2500 assemblies each month and is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the design and manufacture of high-lift devices for the aerospace and avionics industry.

operational excellence recognised

Earlier this year Asco was selected by Boeing as a long-term supplier of hard metal and aluminium structural aircraft components.

The agreement, which runs until 2024, includes both the renewal of existing contracts for the 737 MAX, 737-8 and 787 aeroplane platforms as well as several new packages on the 777X airliner.

“Asco has been delivering parts to Boeing for more than 20 years; we are honoured to be recognised with this award and are fully committed to operational excellence to keep advancing this relationship,” said Kevin Russell, GM and VP of Commercial Asco Aerospace Canada. Laurent Canoen, CCO of Asco, further explained that this long-term contract confirms the relevance of its strategic development in North America. Parts will be produced in Asco’s Zaventum facility in Belgium, as well as in Delta-Canada and Stillwater-OK USA.

At the forefront of aerospace technology

Asco strives for engineering excellence by not only designing innovative customised solutions, but also by targeting the aviation challenges of tomorrow. In close collaboration with its customers, the company focuses on staying at the forefront of the latest technological advances. It maintains its technological leadership through its research and development expertise as well as through pioneering projects with major global players in both original aircraft equipment manufacturing companies and research institutions.

Asco firmly believes that precision in the aerospace industry is all about a continuous focus on detail, while keeping the big picture in mind. This is why it places a high priority on driving its quality management systems and procedures to meet the highest levels of international standards and legislation. The company’s engineers continuously enhance the excellence of their products which are designed to meet cutting-edge applications for high-lift devices and complex structural assemblies, while at the same time working towards achieving greater sustainability and a significantly reduced environmental footprint.

Improving aerodynamics

During the concept design phase the company’s design and stress engineers work on new aircraft technology concepts, either on-site, integrated into customers’ design teams or in its ‘Wings’ development team. Here Asco engineers are responsible for the concept and detailed design, including verification tests, final release and review authorisation of 3D models.

Asco is always working to build upon its enviable market position as the global leader in high-lift devices. These include deployment mechanisms and support systems for a wing’s movable leading-edge slats and trailing edge flaps. The company works continuously to improve the aerodynamics of an aircraft, thus resulting in better fuel economy and reducing the aircraft’s overall ecological footprint. This is why Asco is the industry’s preferred partner for the design and supply of enhanced lift and landing solutions for the majority of the world’s commercial aircraft fleets.

optimising critical structural components

Asco enjoys a global reputation for its design and ‘Build to customer’s Print’ manufacturing and assembly capabilities. It is ranked by Flight International as one of the Worldwide Aerospace top 100 companies. The company manufactures critical structural components and assemblies for an aircraft’s fuselage including spars, ribs, bulkheads, profiles and frames.

Weight is an all-important element in the design of an aircraft and is driving the use of advanced composites in titanium and lightweight metals such as aluminium lithium. Asco’s state-of-theart production facilities are equipped for the high-speed machining and production of components in these advanced metallic alloys. In addition to its dominant presence in the wings and landing gear sectors, the company supplies a variety of secondary structural engineering components and assemblies for critical fuselage structure, flight system interfaces and attachments

Key player in Dreamliner programme

Today, Asco can supply parts for an airbus A330 in just five days, and for a complete set for the massive Airbus A380 where it must take into consideration that it requires a total of more than 2500 individual components. Asco is currently involved in all the various airbus programmes, including the A330, A340, A380 and the A350 – this is in addition to existing work on the 737 MAX, 747-8, 777 and 787. In fact, since the mid-1990s Asco has supplied key parts for every western aircraft model in the 50-seat plus range.

The company is also playing a major role in the current 787 Dreamliner programme, supplying slat tracks and the crown and lower frames of the fuselage section that supports the aircraft’s vertical fin. Through its close industry partnerships, Asco also supplies the regional aircraft market, with components for both Bombardier and Brazil’s Embraer’s executive jets.

For further details of Asco’s exceptional, high-tech product high-lift solutions and services visit: www.asco.be