Independent aviation aftermarket company Fokker Services Group, formerly known as Fokker Techniek, is building a wide-body aircraft hangar in cooperation with modular architect Gaptek. Construction of the 27m high, 87m by 86m hangar will accommodate aircraft such as the Airbus A330, A350 and Boeing 777, and it will be equipped with floor heating and cooling systems all powered by electricity. This hangar is part of a larger expansion plan that includes hiring new colleagues, a second new wide-body hangar and extending workshop spaces at Fokker Services Group's global facilities on Woensdrecht airfield in the Netherlands.

“This new hangar is the latest development in our company-wide growth plan,” says co-CEO Roland van Dijk. “With this investment we are making a long term commitment to our colleagues, customers, suppliers and the local community. As the markets for wide-body maintenance and VIP completions continue to grow, this modern hangar extension allows us to support new and existing customers for the years to come.”

With planning, development and preparations finalised, Gaptek has now started the modular hangar construction on site, which will take just 12-14 weeks to complete. The design is based on Gaptek's patented lightweight system which is fast to assemble and disassemble, and easy to relocate. The aluminium construction reduces CO2 emissions up to 21 per cent compared to conventional steel structures.

“Since the beginning, one of the most important values for Gaptek has been to provide more sustainable and cost efficient solutions,” says Gaptek founding member and president Tomas Felius. “Our technology, initially engineered to provide solutions for military defence, is now more advanced and permits us to provide turnkey facilities that can adapt to actual civil aviation market needs such as fast deployment, low environmental impact, the capability to be easily adapted and relocated while maintaining the CE quality and complying with IBC and local regulations. This project is an important milestone in Gaptek's expansion into international markets.”

Sander Heijmans, executive director of Business Park Aviolanda, on which Fokker Services Group's facilities are located, adds: “This is another great step in the development of Business Park Aviolanda and will clearly be a major contributor to the modernisation and high tech business increase of the entire facility.”