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Hardide Coating Gardner Aircraft Components

MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023


Metal matrix composite coatings provider Hardide Coatings recently signed a partnership with Gardner Aerospace to coat key wing components on its aircraft. According to the release, the company’s nano-structured tungsten and tungsten carbide coating will be replacing the hard chrome plating that was previously used on the Airbus 320s.

“We are very pleased to have been selected to coat further components for the Airbus single-aisle A320 family high-volume production aircraft, and to replace hard chrome plating (HCP),” commented Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide.

“Our coatings are increasingly replacing HCP and thermal spray coatings such as HVOF (high velocity oxy-fuel) on components used in aerospace and other industries. The Hardide coating outperforms these other coatings in its wear, corrosion and fatigue resistance, and offers environmental advantages both in the coating process and its use in service.”

The company reports that the coated components will be used for new builds and as replacement parts for an existing fleet of aircraft. The initial components are expected to be coated in June 2023, with regular monthly releases after. Hardide adds that it is already coating similar wing components for the Airbus A330, A380 and A400M aircraft.

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As a result of REACH regulations, HCP will be banned in Europe and the United Kingdom starting September 2024. In response, Airbus plans to move away from the use of HCP.

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Hardide reports that Airbus currently produces 50 of their A320 models per month and plans to increase this to 75 per month by 2026. All Airbus parts are reportedly coated at the company’s U.K. facility in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

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Tagged categories: Aerospace; aircraft; Business management; Business matters; Business operations; Coating Application; Coating chemistry; Coating Materials; Coatings; Hexavalent chromium; Industry News; Paint; Paint application; Partnerships; Program/Project Management; Tools & Equipment


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