Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS), a unit of Alcoa, today announced it has signed a strategic technology and commercial cooperation agreement with Commercial Aircraft of China, Ltd (COMAC). This agreement deepens Alcoa's existing partnership with COMAC, the main manufacturer of large passenger aircraft programs in China, and reinforces Alcoa's presence in one of the world's fastest growing aerospace markets.

"This agreement establishes Alcoa Fastening Systems as a key partner with COMAC in the development and production of its commercial C919 aircraft," said AFS President Vitaliy Rusakov. "Since 2005, with the inception of our manufacturing operations in Suzhou and our distribution facility in Waigaoqiao, we have anticipated and supported the needs of the growing Chinese aerospace market. We value our relationship and look forward to developing our long-term partnership with COMAC."

AFS will provide COMAC with technical assistance in fastener and assembly tooling selection, joint design consideration and quality system management. The technical assistance will include engineering, design and training. In return, COMAC will purchase a significant percentage of its fasteners from AFS for the initial production of the C919 aircraft.

Alcoa established a technology cooperation agreement with COMAC in 2009 examining advanced aluminum structural concepts, designs and alloys for the C919 aircraft.