Embraer celebrates the opening of its two new Portugal-based Centers of Excellence in the city of Evora, Embraer Metalicas and Embraer Compositos. The two facilities will manufacture complex airframe structures and components in their specific areas of expertise: metallic materials and composites materials. Embraer Metalicas represents an investment of € 100 million Embraer Compositos represents an investment of € 77 million.

The inauguration ceremony, which took place at Embraer Compositos, was attended by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Prof. Anibal Cavaco Silva and other members of the Portuguese government. Representatives from the government of Brazil and from the European Commission, who supported the projects through Portugal's QREN framework program, were also present at the event, as well as several Embraer executives and all Embraer Evora employees.

Today's opening of Embraer's first factories in Europe is a key step in our industrial strategy," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. "These two Centers of Excellence combine the most advanced technologies and manufacturing processes in both metallic and composite airframe construction, and we are sure they will provide a relevant contribution to the development of the Portuguese aerospace industry."

Embraer announced Evora as the chosen location for Embraer Metalicas and Embraer Compositos in the Summer of 2008 and broke ground a year later. Construction was started in 2010. With 37,100 and 31,800-square meter respectively, the two facilities are in the final stages of completing their respective implementation plans, and are expected to reach full production capacity in the second semester of 2013.