Alcan of Montreal has announced a new long-term agreement to supply Airbus with "a variety of high-performance aluminum products" for the European manufacturer's airliners.

The Montreal-based aluminum producer's deal covers a range of products, including plate, sheet, stringer, small extrusions and tubes, for the full range of Airbus planes, including the super jumbo A380 and the new A350 XWB.

Christel Bories, CEO of Alcan Engineered Products, says Airbus' and Alcan's integrated project teams "have jointly developed innovative solutions for advanced aerospace structures using proprietary alloys, including the latest generation of aluminum lithium alloys."

In the face of increasing use of high-technology, plastic-based, composite materials, "we believe that new alloys, combined with innovative design and joining techniques, will ensure that aluminum applications remain competitive for aerospace structures in the foreseeable future," notes Jean-Philippe Cael, president of Alcan's aerospace and transport operations.