AIT awarded SAMC C919 Final Assembly Line contract

Advanced Integration Technology (AIT), a leading factory integration and tooling company delivering fully integrated systems to the aerospace industry, was awarded the C919 Final Assembly Line contract by Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (SAMC). The C919 is a narrow body regional aircraft with a seating capacity of 168-190, among its six planned models, and represents the largest commercial aircraft to be designed and built in China.

This contract chronicles AIT's entrance into the Asian aerospace market for automated assembly and tooling, having secured a contract last year for Xian Aircraft to deliver automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

For the C919, AIT is delivering a Final Assembly Line with five cells comprising fuselage and wing body join tooling and equipment. These cells follow a path from nose filling, wing assembly, rear fuselage assembly, full fuselage assembly to the final wing-to-body and tail join assembly.

"This contract marks a major triumph for our company in collaborating with SAMC and their ambitious plans for the Asian aerospace market," said AIT President Ed Chalupa. "Our team was diligent in designing a final assembly system that worked with SAMC's vision for C919 production."

Manufacture of the C919 tooling and equipment will take place at AIT's facilities in Aldergrove, BC, Canada, and Chesterfield, Michigan. Additionally, the company is supplying its automated Telehandlers for material movement, which will be developed at its facility in Sweden. AIT expects delivery of its automated tooling and equipment to begin late 2013.