Leonardo helicopters, new agreement for made in Italy with Poggipolini

New agreement by Leonardo's helicopter division to promote the implementation of the supply chain with products made in Italy. The agreement with the defence giant was signed by Poggipolini of Bologna, which specialises in the production of critical fasteners and ultra-high precision transmission components and systems. The contract includes the design, development and supply of flexible couplings for transmission shafts and drive shafts, destined for Leonardo's main helicopter platforms (Aw139, Aw189, Aw169, Aw09). Poggipolini, a long-standing partner of Leonardo, will develop a technology hitherto imported from abroad, also assuming responsibility for the design, qualification and certification of the new components according to the Easa P21 civil aviation regulation.

The agreement comes on the heels of the pact signed, again by Leonardo Helicopters, with the Paduan company Iosoclima (see yesterday's Il Sole 24 Ore), and both are part of the Crescere insieme programme, which aims to flank the existing production chain with an ecosystem of Italian companies capable of reducing the dependence of an important defence sector, namely helicopters, on components from abroad.

Less than a year after the presentation of Crescere insieme alle imprese dell'Emilia Romagna - during the meeting promoted by the Automotive sector of Confindustria Emilia, in collaboration with the Region and Confindustria Emilia Romagna - Poggipolini is the first company in the area to sign a collaboration agreement with Leonardo.

'The valorisation of a strategic Italian supply chain,' emphasises Michele Poggipolini, CEO of the company of the same name, 'is fundamental not only to maintain competitiveness in the aerospace market, but above all to guarantee supplies, which today are still too dependent on foreign countries. Our company is proud to promote, as leader, such an important project for the territory'.

Poggipolini, explains Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, 'represents a virtuous case, in which strategic vision and innovative skills meet: their signature opens the way for other excellences in the area. We need companies like this: we cannot and do not want to do everything alone'.