Background on the shortage of aerospace-grade fasteners
By Paul E. Teague -- Purchasing, 10/15/2007 1:11:00 PM EDT
The current fastener shortage was not entirely unforeseen. Analysts say that after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 there was a slowdown in the aerospace industry and a consolidation of suppliers of some key parts and materials. Dave Petina, industry analyst at the Cleveland-based Freedonia Group, says that the aerospace-fastener industry consolidated to the point where only two suppliers—Alcoa and SPS Technologies—gained control of more than half the market. Then, they ramped down production because of the decline in aerospace business. Two years later, in December 2003, Boeing’s Board of Directors approved development of the 787.
“Aerospace-grade fasteners are made to exacting specs,” says Petina, “so it takes a while to get the tool and die guys back up and running.”
The supply problems could have been worse, says Petina. The design of the 787 Dreamliner as a mostly composite airplane meant a huge decrease in the total number of fasteners required, he says. The plane doesn’t need rivets to attach aluminum to the frame.
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