Bombardier seeks supplies worth £30m

Bombardier Aerospace, the Belfast-based aircraft manufacturer, is looking for companies in the Republic to supply at least £30 million sterling (#38 million) worth of equipment and components for its aircraft.

This is on top of the £30 million worth of goods already sourced on the island of Ireland.

"We're going through a major expansion, increasing our procurement requirements from £200 million overall to more than double that in the next five years. We're adding 20 per cent more employees, bringing the workforce to more than 7,000," says Mr Alec McRitchie, director of public relations and communication for the company. Bombardier Aerospace, which acquired the Short Brothers plc aircraft company in Belfast, is the world leader in regional and business aircraft manufacture.

Today at Enterprise Ireland in Merrion Hall in Sandymount, Dublin, Bombardier will host a seminar for companies interested in supplying them. Members of the procurement team from Belfast will be on hand to explain their requirements. Some 50 companies are expected to participate.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, will open the seminar and the chairman of Bombardier Aerospace, Sir George Quigley, will be present.

"We have 30 suppliers in the South and there are significant opportunities for increasing that number," Mr McRitchie says. "We're looking for information technology; consumables - including companies that provide factory cleaning; aerospace components manufacturers; tool - jig and fixtures - manufacturers; aircraft ground support equipment; sheet metal fabricators; companies that make fasteners (rivets); designer engineering companies; test engineering companies; computer software packaging and logistics; adhesives and various other companies in the aerospace sector."

Bombardier Aerospace's equipment procurement bill will increase to more than £500 million over the next five years and Mr McRitchie says it is difficult to put a limit on what they can source in the Republic of Ireland. "We think there are significant opportunities."

"The number of suppliers than can supply aerospace components is limited, so we are keen to encourage that capability to increase and develop," says Mr McRitchie.

He said Bombardier Aerospace did not yet know the extent and capability of potential suppliers in the Republic, but hoped, depending on the contacts made today, to more than double the amount of components sourced here.

Bombardier Inc, the parent company, has design and production facilities in three countries and is now the world's third largest commercial aircraft manufacturer.

The corporation employs a total of 56,000 people in 12 countries from North America through Europe and Asia. Turnover for the year ended January 31st last was 13.6 billion Canadian dollars (#10.45 billion).