French aerostructures and systems specialist Daher has inaugurated a new production line for the composite main landing gear doors for the A350. The new facility is designed to reach a production rate of 20 doors per month — 10 sets of two doors — by 2018. It is part of the company’s “Performance 2017” strategic plan to modernize its production system, remain competitive and meet Airbus production targets for the A350.

The new, automated production line, in which parts move along a series of stations based on a “Takt Time” or “drumbeat” organization, represents an investment of €20m at the company’s Tarbes facility in Southwest France. The facility comprises two lines in parallel — one for left doors and one for right doors. Doors will be produced for both versions of the A350, the -900 and the -1000. The first landing gear door for the A350-1000 was delivered in September 2015.

Daher, which also produces the TBM family of single-engine turboprops, announced in March that turnover had passed the $1bn mark for the first time in 2015.