Bombardier is bringing wing and aerostructure production in-house. On September 1, 2026, the company announced it will acquire the Mississauga, Ontario assets of MHI Canada Aerospace, adding a facility that builds aerostructures for its Global and Challenger jet programs along with roughly 750 employees.
The deal fits a wider pattern in Canadian aerospace manufacturing. The industry contributed $33.1 billion to GDP and supported 218,700 jobs in 2025, according to the latest AIAC/ISED State of Canada's Aerospace Industry report, and several manufacturers are expanding domestic production capacity rather than leaning on outside suppliers.
Aerostructure work is moving in-house
Bombardier's acquisition folds an outside supplier's wing and aerostructure work directly into its own operations, a move the company describes as strengthening supply chain resilience and operational autonomy. The deal is expected to close later in 2026, pending regulatory approval.
It isn't the only Canadian aerospace facility expanding. De Havilland Canada is developing a 1,500 acre manufacturing campus in Alberta after doubling its workforce over the past three years, and Airbus Canada's headcount has grown past 5,300 employees, more than double its 2016 level. Across the sector, exports reached $28.2 billion in 2025, with more than 70 percent of manufacturing revenue tied to sales outside Canada.
Why aerospace-grade finishing is a different job
Aerostructure fabrication puts different demands on abrasives than general metalworking. Aluminum and titanium airframe components carry tight surface finish tolerances, and shops feeding aerospace supply chains typically keep abrasives for aluminum and other non-ferrous metals separate from anything used on steel. Cross-contamination from ferrous particles embedded in a non-ferrous surface can trigger corrosion that a part simply cannot carry into service.
Weld blending, deburring, and edge-breaking on structural components also call for consistent, predictable stock removal rather than the fastest possible cut. Shops that supply into aerospace programs, directly or through a tier below Bombardier or Airbus, tend to standardize on abrasives that hold their shape and grit consistency through a full production run, since a wheel or belt that wears unevenly can throw a part outside its finish spec.
What this means for WA customers
- Shops that machine or fabricate for aerospace and defence programs should expect steady, and in some regions growing, order volumes as this build-out continues through 2026 and beyond.
- Keeping dedicated non-ferrous stock, separate wheels, belts, and even storage for aluminum and titanium work, protects parts from contamination call-backs and rework.
- Consistent grit and bond quality matters more on aerospace-adjacent work than on general fabrication, since finish specs are tighter and rework is expensive.
- Shops new to aerospace-tier suppliers should confirm abrasive specifications with their customer's quality department before switching products mid-program.
Whitby Abrasives stocks grinding wheels, flap discs, non-woven products, and sanding belts suited to both general fabrication and non-ferrous precision work. Browse the full catalog of grinding wheels, cutting discs, flap discs, and sanding belts to find what your shop needs.
Frequently asked questions
Why do aerospace shops keep separate abrasives for aluminum and steel?
Ferrous particles left behind on aluminum or titanium parts can cause galvanic corrosion once the part is in service. Dedicating wheels, belts, and even storage to non-ferrous work prevents that cross-contamination.
Is this aerospace growth limited to Ontario and Quebec?
No. De Havilland Canada's expansion is centred on a new campus in Alberta, and Airbus Canada's growth has been based in Quebec, so the build-out is reaching manufacturing regions across the country.
Does this affect abrasives pricing for shops outside aerospace?
Not directly. The trend is about order volume and product specification. Shops doing general fabrication and metalworking are not competing with aerospace programs for the same grades of abrasives.