EADS, the German-French company that manufactures the Airbus (Toulouse / France; www.airbus.com) airplane has denied German press reports that it plans to close five German production sites with 6,600 employees. Sites named are Stade (side rudder units of carbon fibre composites, CFCs), Laupheim (inner linings of plastic) and Nordenham, Varel and Buxtehude, where electronic components and outer skin components are made. The reports suggested that production facilities could be sold to private investors and could then operate more economically.

The Stade plant is specialised in production and development of the carbon fibre composite technology for the aerospace industry. Around 1,600 employees manufacture side rudder units for all the Airbus models. These components are among the largest structures of fibre composite materials for passenger aircraft in the world. The plant also makes fuselage shells and small parts of CFCs for the "Eurofighter" aircraft.

Laupheim employs 1,000 people in the production of plastic liners and air conditioning pipes for all Airbus planes. The portfolio includes, among other things, side and ceiling panels, overhead luggage compartment flaps, door and door frame liners.