Dutch Thermoplastic Components (DTC)
Dutch Thermoplastic Components (DTC) is one of the few companies in the world specialising in thermoplastic composites for the aircraft industry. This material is used to make parts for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Press-forming small products out of composite is what made DTC big. Although with 35 members of staff, manager David Manten still wants to be classified as a SME. ‘For an Airbus A350 we manufacture more than 1,500 parts per aircraft. For that programme alone we already use more than a thousand unique press moulds.’ According to Manten, the key is to stand out in the aerospace sector by means of specialisation. ‘If you are able to stand out in a niche, you you can supply the aircraft industry.’ Successful DTC was founded in 1999 and focused on the aircraft indus-
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try from the very start. The first really major breakthrough was in 2006 with the contract for serial production of hundreds of parts for the Boeing Dreamliner. At the start of 2009 it became clear that a move to a larger production facility was needed, if further growth was to be achieved. Through a major investment from Technofonds Flevoland together with the KMM Groep, premises measuring 3,000 square metres were occupied in Almere in September 2009. Manten is founder and also majority shareholder of DTC. ‘You can get into this industry with innovations, but if you want to continue to grow you must, in addition to constant innovation, also be a reliable partner in the supply chain.
THE E X P E R TI S E OF E X C E LLE NC E
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‘Large player in small parts’ David Manten: “Innovate existing products and reduce costs, this is how you stay in the picture.”