International advanced composites group Quickstep Holdings Limited (ASX: QHL – "Quickstep") has formed a key alliance to assist in targeting aerospace and defence manufacturing contracts, today announcing it has signed a teaming agreement with EDAG Australia Pty Ltd, a division of the German-based EDAG GmbH & Co. KGaA.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Quickstep and EDAG will work together to pursue opportunities within the aerospace and defence industries, targeting integrated contracts including component design, production engineering and manufacturing.   

Managing Director of Quickstep, Mr Philippe Odouard said "teaming agreements are common within the aerospace industry, enabling consortiums to offer expanded skill sets and expertise that are not typically available within a single organisation".  

Mr Thomas Beck Managing Director of EDAG Australia said "his organisation is a part of a global engineering group that boasts over 5,500 engineers with 600 aerospace engineers in locations such as Germany, France and Spain" and "the EDAG group provides expert engineering knowledge to a wide range of customers including Airbus, Boeing, Dasell, Air France and ATR."  

"Offering a combination of EDAG's internationally recognised engineering expertise alongside Quickstep's world class manufacturing team and facilities, the Quickstep/EDAG alliance will represent a significant force when tendering for aerospace contracts," Mr Odouard continued.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Quickstep will be responsible for the provision of composite production engineering and manufacturing work, and EDAG will be responsible for design, stress and analysis, test support and certification documentation of components.  

The signing of this teaming agreement with EDAG is in keeping with Quickstep's strategy of actively targeting aerospace and defence manufacturing contracts for the Company's North Coogee manufacturing facility, which is on track to achieve AS9100 standards accreditation in mid-March.  

Philippe Odouard said he expected the EDAG agreement to be the first in a series of similar teaming agreements covering a range of disciplines, aimed at assisting Quickstep to secure defence and commercial aircraft contracts.