LORD Corporation launched construction today of a new centre for its aerospace electromechanical systems, including its Fly-By-Wire product line, with the symbolic laying down of the foundation stone in a ceremony attended by local government officials and senior executives from the company.

The new facility, which is expected to be operational in August 2018, will replace the current facility located at nearby Saint-Vallier. As with the current facility, the centre at Pont de L'Isere will house design, development, qualification, certification and manufacturing of advanced cockpit controls, sensors, dampers and electromechanical actuators primarily intended for electromechanical systems to control motion on commercial fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

The 8,000 sq.m. facility, close to 30 percent larger than the existing site, will significantly increase production capacity to meet the growing demands of the major commercial aircraft manufacturers that have selected LORD electromechanical products, particularly Airbus.

The planned capacity will satisfy the company's five-year growth plan. To grow further, the facility and land will accommodate additional increases in manufacturing and office space. The new site will house all 160 employees currently in Saint-Vallier.

Laying the foundation stone at a ceremony today Ed Auslander, president and CEO of LORD Corporation, stated: "Our investment in the region - which exceeds €10 million - is consistent with the globalisation strategy LORD has previously announced for our electromechanical systems, including the Fly-By-Wire product line. The new facility will be the largest LORD site in Europe by number of employees."

Becky Williams, president of LORD Aerospace & Defense, added: "With the addition of mechanical and electromechanical engineering and development, the area is becoming the epicentre of our aerospace activity in Europe, serving customers throughout the continent and globally."

Auslander further expressed the company's gratitude to the local government, especially the town of Pont de l'Isere and the Communaute de Communes Arche Agglo for their great partnership during the site selection process.

Frederic Sausset, President of the Communaute de Commune Arche Agglo welcomed LORD to Pont de l'Isere, adding: "We are delighted by LORD Corporation's commitment to our community and to the experienced workforce that came through its acquisition of Fly-by-Wire Systems France in 2016. We will continue to work in a constructive spirit with LORD to ensure its success in our area."

LORD Corporation completed the acquisition of SKF's Fly-by-Wire Systems France subsidiary in June 2016, noting that it positioned both LORD and the Fly-By-Wire product line for further expansion into new markets and regions. The acquisition also provided LORD with a major aerospace engineering and manufacturing presence in Europe.

Following the acquisition, LORD has added Fly-By-Wire product line repair capabilities at its Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania facility for more efficient service of Airbus-operating airlines in the USA.