Belgium-based aircraft parts manufacturer Sonaca is planning to build a new facility in north-western Romania with the help of an $8.5m aid from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The proposed facility will manufacture wing components for aircraft manufacturers, mainly Airbus and Embraer.
Sonaca expects to complete the facility in two years.
With the scheduled plant in Romania, Sonaca aims to expand its operations in the country.
The new plant will be located 30km away from Cluj-Napoca.
Sonaca develops, builds and assembles advanced structures for large aircraft and is specialised in manufacturing movable wing parts.
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By GlobalDataApart from Airbus and Embraer, the company serves other companies, including Dassault Aviation, Bombardier and Gulfstream.
Sonaca CEO Bernard Delvaux said: "The new operation in Romania will strengthen our competitiveness and will ensure renewed growth over the next five years."
The company has production sites in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China and Romania, with a workforce of more than 2,500 employees worldwide.
EBRD Romania and Bulgaria regional director Matteo Patrone said: "Sonaca’s new plant will contribute to the sustainable development of the aerospace industry in Romania.
"We firmly believe that the plant will demonstrate that high-quality elements for wing aerodynamics can be produced here, and that this will attract further investment into higher value-added manufacturing in the country and strengthen the local knowledge base."
EBRD made the investment in Sonaca to give a boost to Romania’s private sector and to generate foreign direct investment in the country.
Sonaca will provide training to local employees.
The bank has invested more than €7bn in Romania and mobilised over €14bn from other financing sources.
Image: EBRD will finance Sonaca’s second aircraft wing component plant in Romania. Photo: courtesy of EBRD.
