Tokyo-The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced that it would supply Airbus with new prepreg materials to be used initially in the production of A380 belly fairing parts. The material is currently undergoing qualification at Airbus Getafe plant (Spain). Already the exclusive supplier of the A380 water and waste tanks, Yokohama Rubber began delivering the tanks earlier this month. The company plans to utilize the delivery of these products as a foothold for expanding its business with Airbus.

A fairing is the streamlined cover used to protect the whole ?elly?#44; the part between the main wings of an aircraft. The belly fairing is made with light, high strength FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) material. The prepreg is a layered material with its core being special fiber impregnated with epoxy resin. An FRP material is made by molding and thermosetting multi-layered prepreg material. Yokohama Rubber plans to supply A380 with a prepreg material using carbon fiber and introduce non-solvent process into the prepreg production line to reduce burden on the environment.

Yokohama Rubber is a world-class manufacturer of automotive tires and a leading company in the Japanese aircraft components industry. It manufactures and markets a variety of aircraft components made with rubber, metal or composite materials. It also manufactures prepreg materials using carbon and glass fiber for belly fairing, flaps, elevators and other aircraft components.

With 555 passenger seats, the A380 is the world? first full twin-deck, super-large aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2006 after its planned maiden flight in the spring of 2005. Airbus has already received orders for 139 A380 aircrafts.