CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Constellium announced Thursday a multi-year contract with Blue Origin to support their launch vehicle programs.
According to Constellium, the agreement is a new milestone regarding the supply of Airware aluminum plates and sheets for Blue Origin’s New Glenn orbital rocket.
The plates will come from plants in Ravenswood and Issoire, France.
Blue Origin is a privately-funded aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos founded the company in 2000.
“We expect this new contract to strengthen our position as a key supplier of innovative aluminum solutions for the space industry, and as an industry leader more generally,” said Ingrid Joerg, the president of Constellium’s Aerospace and Transportation business unit. “It helps demonstrate our know-how and expertise to provide tailored products and spurs our ambition to pursue growth in servicing our partners in the space industry.”
Buddy Stemple, the CEO of Constellium Ravenswood, spoke highly of the deal.
“We are very proud of this collaboration with Blue Origin, it is a new milestone in our longstanding relationship. Constellium and Ravenswood have a long history delivering high-performance aluminum solutions to the space industry. We are looking forward to continuing to support Blue Origin in its space programs,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., applauded the decision in a statement.
“This is exactly the type of 21st-century investment to secure good-paying jobs that we need in our state. West Virginians are hardworking people that have powered and built our country through mining and manufacturing for over a century,” he said.