Airbus A380 Engine Pylon Covers

This project was completed under the company name TenCate Advanced Composites, prior to our acquisition by Toray Industries and name change to Toray Advanced Composites in 2019.

With over a million parts in flight, the aerospace industry uses TenCate Cetex® composites for applications ranging from structural components, such as wing leading edges, engine pylon structures, cargo flooring, clips and cleats for fuselage structure, acoustic structures, to interior galleys and seats.

The Airbus A380 engine pylon cover is manufactured by Daher (Nantes, France) using TenCate Cetex® PPS/carbon laminate. TenCate Cetex® TC1100 was selected due to its outstanding toughness and excellent chemical and solvent resistance. The material is inherently flame resistant with low smoke emission, exceeds 35/35 OSU, and is qualified at Airbus and Boeing for multiple structural applications. It can also be processed by press stamp forming, which was a requirement for the production of the pylon cover. This part is one of 50 panels on each A380 pylon for both engines, and features an infused bronze mesh top layer for lightning strike protection.