31 March 2003

About the A380 AGS actuators:

The actuators are important for the system to provide cabin comfort to the more than 500 passengers on the new wide body aircraft. The ram and valve actuators are key elements of the AGS. The ram actuators open and close the inlet / outlet doors into the air stream to provide air to the Air Generation Unit (AGU). The zone trim valves control cabin temperature and the bypass valves allow compressed air to be diverted for AGU performance control as required.  Smiths Aerospace provides actuators and sub-systems for most of the narrow and wide body aircraft Environmental Control Systems (ECS) supported by Hamilton Sundstrand.  The new AGS actuators will also provide Airbus with some of the most reliable units, due to the importance of their functions.

Smiths systems on the A380:

This is the sixth contract awarded to Smiths Aerospace on the new 555 seat aircraft.  Previous awards include systems for landing gear extension and retraction, operation of wing flaps & slats, landing gear actuation, fabricated assemblies for the wing structure and video switching for the aircraft.  Starting in 2006, these contracts are expected to generate more than $1 billion for Smiths over the lifetime of the aircraft.  

About Smiths:

Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company, with half its 12,000 staff and $2 billion revenues split equally between Europe and North America. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and are world-leaders in electronic systems, actuation systems, precision components, aviation security and detection systems.