Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly integrating new technologies into their aircrafts – everything from data analytics to tools that improve passenger experience. The global aircraft manufacturing market is estimated to grow $405.3 billion in 2023 to $641.6 billion by the end of 2033.

Bombardier, a Canadian jet manufacturer, is one of the aircraft manufacturers looking to elevate its aircraft and assembly processes. To do this, it needed to level up its manufacturing center and create a state-of-the-art production facility of the future.

Over 200,000 square feet of Kingspan's KS Series and K-Roc HF Series insulated metal panels were used on this new building, letting Bombardier take advantage of the increased energy efficiency and high R-values that IMPs offer.

In 2021, Bombardier announced a new facility designed to handle the final assembly of its global aircrafts. The transition from Bombardier’s Downsview, Ontario, plant to its new Global Manufacturing Center at the Toronto Pearson International Airport followed a private investment of approximately $400 million.

The construction of the new 770,000 square-foot facility represented Bombardier’s commitment to sustainability. According to , the new facility would reduce energy consumption by nearly 60% by “focusing on natural and more efficient lighting elements, and newer heating methods and updated processing systems will lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than half.”

IMPs provide strong thermal barriers by creating airtight and watertight continuous insulation seals. This leads to increased thermal efficiency versus traditional wall assembly materials for the same wall thickness. IMPs offer R-values of up to R-8.0 per inch, which helps to reduce heat loss or heat gain, and therefore, reduce a facility’s energy consumption.

NEUF architect(e)s used more than 222,000 square feet of Kingspan KS Mini Micro-Rib and Kingspan K-Roc HF for the facility.

Kingspan’s K-Roc HF panels offer superior fire protection in sensitive environments. Kingspan’s KS Series panels provide unique aesthetics through a wide range of profiles. Kingspan’s KS Mini Micro-Rib creates an attractive linear appearance with subtle shadows. As a whole, IMPs offer aesthetic flexibility with a vast range of profiles and colors, and can be oriented horizontally or vertically, allowing architects ample design flexibility.

Additionally, IMPs are a single component system that can help accelerate speed of build, creating efficiency in construction that leads to labor and cost savings.

Today, the Bombardier Global Manufacturing Center provides employment to roughly 2,000 highly skilled workers, helping to propel the aircraft manufacturing industry to new heights.