FACC AG officially opened its new Technology Center at its St. Martin location in Upper Austria. The newly-constructed office building with 500 workplaces was completed on schedule in August after a construction period of 14 months.

In future it will serve to bundle the company’s worldwide R&D activities. Yesterday also saw inauguration of the new Engineering Test Center. Annexed to the Technology Center, this is one of the most modern plants for the analysis, testing and certification of composite materials and components.

Numerous representatives of customers, suppliers and business partners from all over the world participated in the festivities, along with figures from politics and the business world.

Hub of global R&D activities

Through intense research activity and development of cutting-edge innovations, FACC has in the last few years successfully pressed through its technological advantage. Investment in research and development increased in the last financial year by 37.5 percent to €96.8 million and is set to keep rising.

The company received a specific acknowledgement of its innovative strength in the form of the “Frontrunner” award from the Austrian Ministry of Traffic, Innovation and Technology (bmvit), which was presented to FACC as the first company in Austria by Innovation Minister Doris Bures during her visit in May this year.

The global presence of its engineering organization with locations in Germany, Slovakia, USA, Canada, China and India enables FACC to develop components and processes in cooperation with leading customers across the world. The new technology center will in future serve as the hub of the company’s global R&D activities. Additionally, the engineering departments of the divisions Aerostructures and Interiors, which have to date been situated in separate facilities, will be brought together in the new building.

Innovative strength bundled, growth secured

In line with the motto “growth through innovation”, FACC is setting a clear signal with its new Technology Center that the company intends to continue developing its innovative strength in the future. “The challenges which the aviation traffic of the future presents for aircraft are immense and various. Therefore the development of aircraft and their components will require further innovations in lightweight construction”, stresses Robert Machtlinger, COO at FACC AG.

The new Technology Center has created the ideal preconditions for research and development. Its focuses of work include research into process and material technologies, component design and development, including stress engineering, testing and certification, tool design and production, right up to the introduction into serial production. With the additional capacities FACC can continue its growth successfully and set new standards in advanced lightweight aircraft construction.

Testing everything that moves...

Following formation of the etc Prüf und Test GmbH in July 2013 and the partial spin-off from 1 September, the Engineering Test Center in St. Martin is now operating as an independent company with 35 highly-qualified staff. FACC AG holds 91% of the shares, the remaining 9% are held by Techno-Z Ried.

The core competence in material and component testing with the current clear focus on composite materials, as required in the aviation industry, is intended to be rapidly expanded to the automotive sector, products for the sports and leisure industry, renewable energies and special machine construction.

Whenever something moves or is moved, it must be borne in mind that masses are involved which will use up energy. The lighter the better – what applies to the aviation industry also applies to other branches. Now in the Engineering Test Center, not only FACC but also other regional and transregional companies have a highly specialized service provider.

“Growth through innovation” assures the sustained competitiveness of FACC for the future. The new Technology Center and Engineering Test Center have given this slogan a modern future-oriented twist.

"Modularity - Identity – Prestige"

The architecture of the new Technology Center satisfies the demands of future-oriented research, clearly exhibits the corporate identity and presents the character of the company to the public. The contrast between the glossy and matt materials in the façade together with the bays create an interesting dynamic. The open construction and short distances are intended to promote communication and cooperation between departments. The design pursued the targets of high flexibility and modular use of space. Experts worked together with FACC employees to create a modern office and workplace concept for the building.

The Engineering Test Center offers state-of-the-art equipment for analysis and testing, which are ideally suited to the materials, products and processes to be tested.

About FACC:

No other organization active in this particular field of industry has its lightweight composite components installed in so many different aircraft models: FACC is leading force in the development and production of components and systems made of composite materials. Our high-quality lightweight solutions help ensure safety, save weight and provide for more comfort and enhanced noise reduction aboard passenger, cargo and business aircraft and helicopters.