MHI Complete Construction of Skin Stringer Manufacturing Plant For Composite-material Wing Boxes of the Boeing 787.

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 12, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed the construction of a plant in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The plant will manufacture skin stringers for composite-material wing boxes of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a super-efficient new generation airplanes. The completion ceremony was held today. At the plant, most of advanced manufacturing equipments, including an autoclave, have already been installed. Together with two new plants for integrally streamlined production of the wing boxes that are currently under construction on the premises of Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works, the main aircraft manufacturing plant of MHI, the new plant in Shimonoseki will be one of key plants to consolidate MHI's position as a global center of aircraft wing production.

The construction of stringer manufacturing plant, converting a part of existing Yamatomachi Plant at MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard and Machinery Works, commenced in June 2005. At the plant with 6,750 square meter (approximately 72,500 square feet) floor space, highly advanced equipment, such as an autoclave that bakes and cures layered composite material under high temperature and pressure; water jet cutting machines to process cured stringer material; and nondestructive inspection system, are to be used.

Full-scale production of stringers is expected to start in August this year. The stringers manufactured at Shimonoseki will be transported to Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works and integrated into wing boxes in Nagoya, which then will be shipped to Boeing by air.

The Composite material used for wing boxes is the carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), the combination of carbon fiber and resin. The composite material is superior in strength and rigidity compared with conventional aluminum alloy and titanium alloy. Skin stringer is one of bony structures of about 30-meter long wing boxes.

Shimonoseki Shipyard and Machinery Works commenced composite-material business in 1988. Since then, it has handled many FRP products for aerospace use, including doors for helicopters. In producing stringers, the Work will fully incorporate its technological expertise and technical know-how it has cultivated. Going forward, the Work will continue to bear a part in MHI's aerospace business and take on further enhancement of technology and quality, as well as establishment of effective production structure through introduction of advanced equipment.

After MHI was decided to be responsible for composite-material wing box, its first application to large-size commercial airplane, the company has energetically engaged in its development and testing at Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works. At the Works in Nagoya, construction of composite-material forming plant building was completed at the end of last year and construction of wing box assembly plant is scheduled for completion in June this year. Closely coordinating these three aerospace manufacturing plants in Shimonoseki and Nagoya, MHI, as a partner, will continue to support Boeing's 787 and other programs.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TSE: 7011, MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading heavy machinery manufacturers, with consolidated sales of 2,590 billion yen in fiscal 2004 (year ended March 31, 2005). MHI's diverse lineup of products and services encompasses shipbuilding, steel structures, power plants, chemical plants, environmental equipment, industrial and general machinery, aircraft, space rocketry and air-conditioning systems. For more information, please visit the MHI website (http://www.mhi.co.jp).

Source: JCN http://www.japancorp.net

Contact:

Hideo Ikuno
E-mail: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Daiya PR (in charge of public relations for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)

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