?First sale of 'Quickstep Process' system for manufacturing large carbon?fibre components
?EUR4.2 million commercial contract with aircraft composite producer
?Quickstep will supply its unique patented technology which moulds carbon?fibre components using fluids instead of standard autoclave 'oven' techniques
?Significant potential market for Quickstep


Sydney, 25 July 2013- Quickstep, the manufacturer of high?grade carbon?fibre composite components, today announced the first commercial sale of its patented 'Quickstep Process' system. Quickstep has secured a EUR4.2 million (AUD6.0 million) contract to provide a leading aircraft composites manufacturer, ORPE Technologiya, with its Quickstep Process to manufacture large carbon?fibre composite components.
The Quickstep Process involves surrounding raw carbon?fibre with heated liquids which transfer heat 25 times faster than traditional autoclave (or 'oven?heated') methods, enabling composite components to be cured more efficiently and at a fraction of the cost.
The Quickstep Process will be used to produce large carbon?fibre shielding for satellites during launches, opening up the aerospace navigation, telecommunications and weather satellite markets for Quickstep's technology.
The contract will be delivered over 18 months and will involve all parts of Quickstep's global organisation.
Quickstep managing director Philippe Odouard said: "We are delighted with this first commercial sale of the Quickstep Process, which validates our business model and the quality of our research and development. "Carbon?fibre composites weigh much less than metal, which provides a big advantage in terms of fuel efficiency.
The value of the Quickstep Process is that it is cost efficient, suited to mass production and can mould carbon fibre into exact shapes for specialist use.
"This is a prestigious contract which reflects Quickstep's growing reputation in the aerospace sector, which requires the highest possible standards. Our aerospace experience places us in a strong position for future sales."
ORPE Technologiya, based in Russia, supplies businesses in 20 countries including Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, India, China and South Korea, including Airbus, Boeing, Siemens and EADS.


ENDSBackground
on Quickstep Holdings Limited
Quickstep Holdings (ASX:QHL) is a manufacturer of advanced carbon fibre composites for the aerospace and defence and automotive industries. The company operates state?of?the?art manufacturing facilities at Bankstown Airport in Sydney, Australia, and has offices in Germany and the United States.
Quickstep is an approved supplier for the international F?35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program ? the largest military aerospace program in the world, valued at in excess of US$300 billion worldwide. To date more than 68 JSF aircraft have been delivered to the US Department of Defense, and this number is now expected to grow rapidly. The company has also been selected by Lockheed Martin as the sole supplier of composite wing flaps for the C?130J "Hercules" military transport aircraft. Quickstep is currently partnering with some of the world's largest aerospace/defence organisations, including the US Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Airbus and EADS.
Quickstep is also developing patented manufacturing technologies to produce high?volume A?grade finished composite components for automotives and specialist thick parts such as spars and wing skins for large defence and commercial aircraft. The company is currently working with the US Department of Defence to qualify its patented Quickstep Process for JSF, and is also conducting a major research and development program with car maker Audi aimed at delivering high?quality finish, low cost, fast processing of carbon fibre composite, together with specialised resins, particularly adapted to the automotive industry

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