The establishment of the AeroTech Campus, the “new ‘hub’ for the technological innovation of the Leonardo Aerostructures Division”, was recently announced at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant (Naples).

In addition to the inauguration of the AeroTech Campus, the ceremony also marked the start of a “transformation programme” at Leonardo’s Pomigliano d’Arco facility, which is focused on improving production engineering processes, and further emphasises Southern Italy’s aims of growing its aeronautics sector.

The AeroTech Campus will host researchers, developers and new teams involved in the development of ‘cutting edge’ technologies to be implemented in aerostructures, thereby “consolidating Leonardo’s market leadership in the
field”.

The AeroTech Campus will also collaborate with the University Federico II of Naples.

Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo (www.leonardocompany.com) said: “The challenge for Italy’s future is linked to its technological skills and the growth of the Southern regions . . . Our goal is to turn the tide and make our production plants centres of excellence in the manufacturing sector.”

He added: “Leonardo is ready to do its part, and we ask the local authorities and central administrations to invest in the aerostructures sector with us.”

Leonardo is the world’s sixth-largest producer of aerostructures for civil aircraft — a market that will require about 43,000 new airplanes over the next 20 years and necessitate new production processes in order to meet the high demand.