Industria de Turborreactores S.A. (ITR), ITP's Mexican affiliate based in Querétaro, has signed a ten-year contract worth over 50 million dollars with Airbus to supply hydraulic tubing for the single-aisle aircraft family of the A320 series, manufactured in Hamburg and Toulouse.

The contract, signed after a year and a half of negotiations, significantly increases the factory's load volume in this business line since it means a sudden leap in production of 60,000 tubes a year in addition to the current output of 40,000. The project will turn over 5.6 million dollars a year and mean the creation of 20 new jobs once demand level reaches 100%.

At the same time, it will also diversify the customer portfolio, currently focussed entirely on aeronautic engines, towards the structure of the aircraft. Use will be made of existing technical capabilities since no new special processes are required, although there will be a need for investment in installations.

The project includes 150 'part numbers' manufactured in steel and titanium, which will be developed over a period estimated at 18 months. The plan is to deliver the first part in July 2010, together with its certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

This development will also mean new task planning for things like the 'readjustment' of the tubes during installation, given the natural variations in the tolerances of the aircraft structure while it is being assembled.

ITR is jointly held by ITP (75%) and Mexicana de Aviación. The company has a staff of 450 and dedicates its efforts to the maintenance and repair of JT8D-STD, JT8D-200 and TPE-331 aeronautic engines, along with engineering for aerospace design and development and the manufacture of aeronautic components.