FTI has spent the last 39 years serving the aerospace
industry. What started out as a simple wire forming
company in a Seattle garage has become a major player
in the aerospace community by providing innovative solutions
for new aircraft production and aging aircraft refurbishment.
FTI officially entered the aerospace business in 1969,
when we helped pioneer the hole cold expansion process.
The cold expansion process originated with The Boeing
Company who invented the basic cold expansion method.
Within a year, Claire Harter of Industrial Designers
(the precursor to FTI) invented and put into production
the first machine to manufacture the split sleeve, which
made the cold expansion process possible. Development
continued, and Boeing subsequently granted FTI a license
for sale and distribution of the tooling used in implementing
the process.
Scott, Burke and Bruce Gibson
- FTI owners
Mr. Burke Gibson, a Seattle businessman, purchased controlling
interest in the company in 1973 and a year later changed
the name to Industrial Wire and Metal Forming. In 1976,
Louis Champoux (a consultant with the company) and Chuck
Copple built one of the company's
first fatigue-testing machines for further research
into the split sleeve cold expansion technology.
In 1980, we changed our name to Fatigue Technology
Inc. and moved into a larger facility to keep up with
the demand for our cold expansion process. In 1984,
in response to customer requests, we expanded our materials
research center into a state-of-the-art materials testing
facility.
Today, we have taken the foundation of cold expansion
and developed bushing, fastener and fitting solutions
that significantly reduce manufacturing and maintenance
flow-time and costs. You can find our products on almost
every major airplane and helicopter program in the market.
To support our customers, we have offices and representatives
worldwide including our 120,000
square foot engineering and manufacturing headquarters
where most of our 190 employees strive everyday to provide
our customers with the very best products and services
- a tradition we have held for the last 39 years.
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