"The opening of new headquarters in Sao Paulo marks a new stage in our development in Brazil. All divisions of EADS are now combined in the same premises in order to increase efficiency. This is an important symbol because there are many synergies between them. " Offensive, Louis Welsh, president of EADS, sent to the group's employees a message of confidence in their ability to ramp up in Brazil, where it generated more than 1 billion euros in turnover in 2010 against 468 million euros in 2009.
To speed up, EADS is based on solid commercial and industrial positions built by his two spearheads: Airbus and Eurocopter. The European aircraft manufacturer owns 70% of the market for Brazilian civil aviation with 600 units sold and over 250 aircraft to be delivered.Since 1998, Airbus has tripled the size of the fleet in service with his family in 320 has accumulated 350 orders. The company LATAM (after the merger between TAM and LAN) is now in the top five customers of Airbus, while the regional airline TRIP is the world leader in turboprop (propeller) ATR, a subsidiary of EADS and Finmeccanica. Airbus hopes to increase further by assuming the largest share of a market whose needs are estimated at 610 new aircraft by 2020.
A new plant in Itajuba
Eurocopter, meanwhile, was the pioneer group in terms of technology transfer. He is the only helicopter manufacturer in the world to have implemented a comprehensive industrial activity in Brazil. And this, in 1978 by creating a subsidiary, Helibras. Its plant Itajuba (Minas Gerais) will be delivered after that date, 610 helicopter in late 2011.Between 1978 and 2011, Eurocopter's market share jumped from 14 to 53% in Brazil. To cope with this growth, the group plans to open two maintenance workshops in Brasilia and Rio will open this winter and a new plant in the presence of Itajuba Dilma Roussef, the president of the Brazilian Republic.
The new site will assemble including the EC 175 for the Brazilian army. Three years after the signing of a contract to acquire 50 EC 175, accompanied by a transfer of technology, the program aims 50% local value added. To this end, Helibras just doubled the capacity of its engineering center and plans to open a technology institute in association with the University of Itajuba. "Several industrial packages were signed with the Brazilian industry: from the 26th unit, only the cell (note: the body of the helicopter) will be delivered in Marignane," says Louis Welsh.Become the fourth industrial base of Eurocopter, behind France, Germany and Spain, Helibras will have 1100 employees by 2015 against 610 in 2011 (and 290 in 2009).
"EADS has become a Brazilian citizen"
The goal is to build on the expertise of Helibras to launch a new helicopter 100% made in Brazil by 2020. For now, the subsidiary is in line to meet with the EC 225, the civilian version of the EC 725, the growing needs of oil companies, including national oil Petrobras, an offshore market estimated at 60 gear. "With Helibras, EADS became a Brazilian citizen. It is considered a success by the government. Thanks to our ability to offer technology transfer, training of local staff and to adapt our products to our customers' needs, we can also penetrate into the space and defense, "said Louis Welsh.
The time is right because Brazil wants to boost its defense industry and space. Dilma Roussef took last Friday a series of support measures in this direction with the view to learn new skills because there is no question, as in the past, to rely on foreign equipment. The president of Brazil was cited as the first site implementation specifications of the future communications satellite in Brazil. "This satellite will have a hybrid dual mission: to satisfy the needs of the army and bring broadband to areas that do not yet have access," said Jean-Noel Hardy, vice president of sales and marketing in Latin America to Astrium, EADS Space.
The purchase process should be launched by end 2011-early 2012 by the state holding Telebras. Astrium and its subsidiary Equatorial systemas stand ready to respond to build that future satellite.The timetable is tight because Brasilia plans to launch in 2014. "The transfer of technology associated with the contract of 716 million reals (about 360 million euros) to pave the way for a second satellite with a major domestic content in 2019," said Jean-Noel Hardy.
A partnership with Thales not excluded
In the even more sensitive defense and security, Cassidian, a subsidiary of EADS Defence, created in 2010, a joint venture with Odebrecht, a diversified conglomerate that controls the transfer of technology in submarines sold by France. The joint venture's primary mission to respond to future tender for the monitoring of land and sea borders of countries with command centers. "We do not exclude to partner with Thales to win this contract," says Louis Welsh.
It is estimated at 7.5 billion euros over five years.World Cup Soccer in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 as Brazil hosts play a role as a spur to a country recognizes the need to invest heavily in the fight against insecurity. Cassidian who has already won its first contract to equip the federal police secure communications systems, also expects the results of the tenders awarded by the policies of the 26 Brazilian states who want to equip. "This market is estimated at 1 billion euros, and we hope to take at least half," said Christian Gras, President Cassidian Brazil.
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