Boeing has chosen Brisbane-based firm Ferra Engineering from more than 20 global suppliers to provide parts for its commercial aircraft.
Ferra Engineering won a five-year build-to-order contract for 618 unique machined components for Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777 model aircraft.
Ferra Engineering was identified as a potential supplier by the Boeing Office of Australian Industry Capability (OAIC), which was established with support from the Defence Materiel Organisation’s Industry Division.
“Over the past three years, Ferra has worked closely with the OAIC for training and development that has helped us to be more competitive,” Mark Scherrer, Ferra Engineering managing director, said.
"The OAIC also facilitated bid opportunities that ultimately led to contracts with several US-based Boeing sites.
"With our performance to those contracts, our business is expanding rapidly."
"As part of this long-term agreement, Ferra is now planning to open a new office in the US to provide additional services and further expand our export business.”
The OAIC offers an alternative to traditional industrial offsets to increase global business opportunities for Australian companies.
Through the OAIC, Boeing was the first prime contractor to address Australia’s 2007 Defence Industry Policy.
Since then, the OAIC has helped Australian firms win contracts worth more than US$200 million in support of commercial aircraft programs such as 747, 767, 777 and the 787 Dreamliner, as well as the Airborne EarlyWarning & Control aircraft, CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter, KC-135 and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft.