MRO & Manufacturing
Embraer Supplier Advisory Council 2026 Meets at Garmin HQ
Embraer’s 2026 Supplier Advisory Council met at Garmin HQ to address AI and automation amid a record US$34.5B backlog.
Embraer convened its Supplier Advisory Council at Garmin headquarters in Olathe, Kansas, on September 29, 2026, to align its global supply chain strategy with the production demands of a record US$34.5 billion backlog.
In a press release issued Tuesday, the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer detailed collaborative initiatives with key aerospace suppliers aimed at integrating artificial intelligence, automation, and digitalization to overcome persistent industry manufacturing bottlenecks.
Strategic collaboration amid production pressures
The Embraer Supplier Advisory Council (ESAC) serves as the primary forum for the airframer to coordinate with its most critical supply chain partners. The September 29 meeting brought together representatives from major aerospace firms including ASE, Diehl Aviation, FACC, Fokker Services, Globo Usinagem, Hexcel, Moog, Pratt & Whitney, and SAP.
Discussions centered on modernizing the manufacturing ecosystem. As Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across the aviation sector face parts shortages and delayed deliveries, Embraer is pushing its supply base to adopt advanced digital tools. The integration of artificial intelligence and automated inventory management systems is intended to create a more resilient and predictable flow of components to Embraer final assembly lines.
Roberto Chaves, Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain at Embraer, emphasized the necessity of these joint efforts to maintain delivery schedules.
ESAC continues to be an important platform for collaboration between Embraer and our strategic partners. The success of the initiatives presented demonstrates how knowledge sharing and joint solution development can generate tangible benefits throughout the supply chain while strengthening our ability to meet growing demand in the global market.
Garmin hosts 2026 summit
The 2026 council meeting was hosted by Garmin Ltd. at its global headquarters and aviation division base in Olathe, Kansas. Garmin is a major avionics provider for Embraer, supplying flight deck technology across multiple aircraft programs.
Carl Wolf, Vice President of Aviation Sales, Marketing, Programs and Support at Garmin, highlighted the value of bringing Tier 1 suppliers together to address shared challenges.
We are proud to host ESAC 2026 and welcome some of the leading voices in the global aerospace supply chain. Events like this strengthen strategic relationships, foster innovation, and create opportunities to develop solutions that benefit the entire industry.
Scaling to meet a record backlog
The urgency surrounding supply chain optimization stems directly from Embraer commercial success over the past year. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported its backlog had reached US$34.5 billion. This figure marked the seventh consecutive record high for the manufacturer, driven by strong demand across its Commercial Aviation, Executive Aviation, and Defense & Security segments.
Since its founding in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 9,000 aircraft. The company notes that its manufactured aircraft currently transport approximately 150 million passengers annually. Sustaining and growing that footprint requires a supply chain capable of scaling alongside the company order book.
Earlier in 2026, Embraer executives acknowledged that supply chain constraints persist across the aerospace industry. In response, the company has proactively engaged with suppliers to anticipate potential bottlenecks, expand manufacturing capacity, and improve overall delivery reliability. This strategy includes recognizing and incentivizing top-performing partners. In April 2026, ESAC members FACC and Diehl Aviation were honored with Embraer Best Supplier Awards, highlighting the deep integration required to maintain production rates.
AirPro News analysis
The focus of the 2026 ESAC meeting underscores a fundamental shift in how aerospace OEMs manage their supply bases. We are seeing a transition away from traditional, transactional vendor management toward deep operational integration. By pushing digitalization and artificial intelligence down to the Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier levels, Embraer is attempting to build a predictive supply chain rather than a reactive one.
With a US$34.5 billion backlog, Embraer primary challenge is no longer selling aircraft, but building them. The industry-wide supply chain crisis has constrained output for all major airframers. Embraer ability to hit its delivery targets in late 2026 and into 2027 will depend entirely on whether the collaborative frameworks discussed in Olathe translate into actual, on-time component deliveries from partners like Pratt & Whitney and Moog.
Photo Credit: Embraer
MRO & Manufacturing
Collins Aerospace Expands West Des Moines Facility
Collins Aerospace adds 14,000 sq ft to its Iowa facility to boost engine component and fuel system production by mid-2027.
Collins Aerospace will add 14,000 square feet to its West Des Moines, Iowa, manufacturing facility to increase production capacity for advanced fuel distribution systems and engine components.
The multi-million-dollar investment, announced by parent company RTX Corporation in a press release on September 29, 2026, aims to alleviate supply chain bottlenecks by expanding both original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and aftermarket maintenance capabilities for commercial and military aviation platforms.
Meeting supply chain demand
The aerospace supply chain is currently working to meet high demand for both OEM components and aftermarket spare parts. The expansion of fuel distribution system manufacturing directly supports the ramp-up of commercial and military aviation programs, ensuring operators have access to critical powerplant accessories.
The West Des Moines facility specializes in producing advanced fuel distribution systems and operates as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Part 145 repair station. The site focuses on engine nozzle systems and powerplant accessories.
“The investment at our West Des Moines site demonstrates our commitment to advancing commercial and military aviation through our innovative fuel-distribution technology,” said James Bagg, Vice President and General Manager of Engine Control Systems at Collins Aerospace.
Bagg noted that the expansion will help the company enhance delivery performance, improve manufacturing capabilities, and add jobs to meet growing customer demand.
Continuous capital investment in Iowa
The West Des Moines site has seen continuous capital investment over recent years. In July 2023, Collins Aerospace completed a $14 million, 9,000-square-foot expansion at its Delavan Drive facility in West Des Moines.
That prior expansion focused on increasing additive manufacturing capacity with metal 3D printers and received National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) certification. The current operation employs approximately 300 full-time workers and ships 25,000 engine nozzles each month.
Construction timeline and broader MRO strategy
Construction on the new 14,000-square-foot expansion is scheduled to begin in late September 2026. Collins Aerospace expects to complete the facility expansion by mid-2027.
To support long-term program growth, the company plans to add additional roles and continue hiring from the end of 2026 through 2027.
The Iowa expansion aligns with broader efforts by Collins Aerospace to increase its global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network and partnerships. The company recently signed new MRO agreements with ST Engineering in late September 2026 to further expand its aftermarket support capabilities.
Photo Credit: KCRG
MRO & Manufacturing
RECARO Expands Poland Facility to 100000 Seats Per Year
RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska opens expanded Świebodzin facility, raising annual capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 passenger seats.
RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska officially opened its expanded manufacturing and office facility in Świebodzin, Poland, on September 25, 2026, increasing its annual production capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 passenger seats.
The expansion, detailed in a company press release, represents a double-digit million Euro investment under the manufacturer’s global “space2grow” initiative. The project more than doubles the site’s footprint, allowing the company to meet rising global demand for its Economy Class seating platforms, which include the R1, R2, and R3 models.
Scaling production capacity in Świebodzin
The Świebodzin site grew from approximately 10,550 square meters to more than 22,000 square meters. The expansion adds 8,600 square meters dedicated specifically to production, logistics, and cut2dress operations. This brings the combined area for these manufacturing functions to roughly 18,000 square meters. To support the higher output, the number of active production lines at the facility doubled from four to eight.
An additional 3,000 square meters of modern office space was constructed during the project, bringing the total administrative area to nearly 5,000 square meters. Since operations began, the Polish facility has produced nearly 660,000 passenger seats. To support the increased capacity and expanded footprint, RECARO plans to hire more than 200 employees at the site over the next five years.
Executive perspectives and automation plans
Michał Nowicki, General Manager of RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska, stated that the space2grow initiative provides the capacity and modern working environment required to sustain growth while improving efficiency, safety, and collaboration across the site.
Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO and Shareholder of RECARO Aircraft Seating and CEO of RECARO Holding, emphasized the strategic importance of the Polish facility to the company’s broader objectives.
“The opening of our expanded facility in Świebodzin marks an important milestone for RECARO and our space2grow journey. We are proud to celebrate this next chapter together with our team in Poland. This expansion strengthens our capabilities to meet growing customer demand, and we look forward to continuing our successful growth in Świebodzin.”
The facility opening follows the site’s 20th anniversary of manufacturing operations, which was celebrated on July 6, 2026. Looking ahead, RECARO plans to implement automated storage and picking technology at the newly expanded warehouse by the end of 2027.
Broader space2grow global strategy
The Polish expansion fits into a wider global infrastructure strategy. The space2grow initiative also includes a 60 percent increase in test seat production capacity in Germany and a new customer service facility in Delhi, India, which opened in the first quarter of 2026.
These infrastructure investments follow a strong financial year for the manufacturer. In April 2026, RECARO reported achieving €710 million in revenue for 2025, producing nearly 120,000 passenger seats globally during that period. The company also recently expanded its product portfolio beyond Economy Class, launching the R4 next-generation premium class seating in August 2026.
AirPro News analysis
We view the Świebodzin expansion as a necessary step for RECARO to maintain its delivery commitments amid broader supply chain constraints in the commercial aviation sector. By doubling its production lines in Poland, the manufacturer is positioning itself to absorb the high volume of Economy Class seat orders driven by narrowbody fleet renewals. The planned integration of automated storage technology by 2027 suggests a focus on reducing turnaround times and mitigating labor bottlenecks in logistics, which remains a critical pressure point for Tier 1 aerospace suppliers.
Sources: RECARO Aircraft Seating
Photo Credit: RECARO Aircraft Seating
MRO & Manufacturing
Rolls-Royce Invests £300 Million in UK Manufacturing Sites
Rolls-Royce commits £300 million to expand manufacturing and MRO capacity across five UK sites in Civil Aerospace and Defence.
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc announced a £300 million investments on September 28, 2026, to expand capacity and modernize its manufacturing and engineering infrastructure across five sites in the United Kingdom.
The capital injection targets both the Civil Aerospace and Defence divisions, aiming to meet rising production demands and secure sovereign industrial capabilities. According to a company press release, the commitment brings the manufacturer’s total UK investment to more than £3 billion since its transformation program launched in 2023.
Major infrastructure upgrades in Derby and Bristol
The largest portion of the newly announced funding is directed toward the company’s facilities in Derby and Bristol. Rolls-Royce has allocated more than £140 million to its Derby site to construct new engineering and manufacturing services facilities. The company expects to complete these upgrades in 2028.
In Bristol, a £90 million facility upgrade program will focus on operational delivery, digital security, and expanding maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. The Bristol site currently supports 3,500 employees. Upgrades at this location are scheduled for completion in 2031.
Expanding component production across the UK
The investment package also distributes capital to specialized manufacturing centers to alleviate supply-chain bottlenecks and increase component output. At the Advanced Blade Casting Facility in Rotherham, a £19 million investment is targeted at doubling turbine-blade production by 2030. This specific project received an additional £2 million in support funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Further north, the company is directing £43 million to its Inchinnan facility near Glasgow to procure new engine-component manufacturing machinery. An additional £5 million is earmarked for manufacturing upgrades at the Ansty site in Warwickshire.
Government backing and financial momentum
The investment aligns with broader UK industrial strategy and was formally highlighted by Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey during the Labour Party conference. Healey characterized the commitment as a powerful vote of confidence in the domestic economy that will strengthen sovereign industrial capability and support skilled employment across the country.
Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic stated that the UK facilities house top engineering talent, describing the £300 million allocation as a clear statement of intent to grow the advanced manufacturing sector and build the infrastructure required for future aerospace programs.
The capital expenditure follows a period of strong financial performance for the engine manufacturer. In July 2026, Rolls-Royce reported a 46 percent increase in underlying operating profit for the first half of the year, reaching £2.5 billion. This growth was driven by improved margins across its civil aerospace, defense, and power systems portfolios.
AirPro News analysis
We view this £300 million allocation as a necessary step to protect Rolls-Royce’s production ramp-ups against ongoing global supply chain fragility. By doubling turbine-blade output in Rotherham and expanding MRO capacity in Bristol, the manufacturer is directly addressing two of the most persistent bottlenecks in the current aerospace market: high-pressure turbine component availability and aftermarket servicing delays. The explicit backing from the UK Government also signals a stabilized relationship between the manufacturer and state leadership, ensuring that defense and civil aerospace remain central to the UK’s industrial strategy through the end of the decade.
Sources: Rolls-Royce
Photo Credit: Rolls-Royce
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