Boeing C-17 torquebox
Stork Fokker is among the top 25 major suppliers to the Long Beach division of Boeing, the US manufacturer of the military C-17 heavy transport aircraft for which it produces two fundamental components.
Expertise in assembly, machining, composites and sheet metal has enabled Stork Fokker to accept Boeing’s invitation to take part as a price-competitive and reliable supplier. The company’s experience in metal fabrication was a major factor in its being chosen for single-source, build-to-print production of the C-17 Ramp Attach Torque Box, a complicated loading-ramp/door that includes a substantial bought-in element.
| To produce the Boeing C-17’s Troop Door Air Deflector, which protects paratroops from the outside airflow during parachute operations, Stork Fokker has drawn on its composites technology skills.
As the customer, Boeing has enjoyed considerable savings because of the supplier’s lean manufacturing operations, which have resulted in significant lower prices and shorter lead times and continue to do so as the process is improved. The C-17 is well known for its high airlift capacity and capability to operate from short and poorly surfaced runways, as well as for its performance in humanitarian aid and support missions. |
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