You can now gain valuable insight into the technology and process of Cold Expansion by viewing an informative presentation given by FTI's Len Reid, Vice President of Technology/Technology Fellow.  

This 3-part, 25-minute discussion provides a basic overview of the split sleeve cold expansion process and explains how cold expansion of metal holes in aircraft structures can extend the structural fatigue life, improve damage tolerance, and save weight in structural design.

Topics include:

• What is metal fatigue and how to prevent it
• Theory of cold expansion
• Effect on crack growth and damage tolerance
• Re-work of previously cold expanded holes in aluminum
• Weight savings for fatigue life designed structure
• Relative costs of different fastener hole methods
• Effect of cold expansion on edge margin
• AND MUCH MORE ...

 You may view this presentation on our website or on FTI's YouTube Channel 

 

FTI's Service Team with the 100th F-16 wIng repair

The F-16 fleet was experiencing corrosion in the Wing Rib Fuel Pylon Forward Attach Point which prevented some aircraft to be not fully mission capable. FTI developed a repair solution using a specialized ForceMate bushing to repair the damaged pylon. The USAF also utilized FTI's experienced Service Team to perform this repair in order to lean on FTI's knowledge of the repair procedures and tooling and to expedite the repair timeline.

So far, FTI has repaired 115 wings at 14 worldwide locations and brought 78 F-16s back to Fully Mission Capable Status. Compared to the cost of complete wing replacement (the next best alternative to FTI's solution) the Plyon Rib Repair performed by FTI's Service Team saves the F-16 operator several hundred thousand dollars per wing. 

Visit our website for more information on FTI's ForceMate Bushing Installation System or our Service Teams. 

 

FTI has proven over the last couple of years that cold expanded products can be successfully installed into composite materials with beneficial effects. We have rigorously tested all of our products and the results have been positive.

We have put together a series of short and informative Tech Briefs that are now available to registered users on our web site. These briefs include:

• Laminate integrity of holes with FTI's expanded products
• Retention of FTI products in composite materials
• Bypass static testing
• ForceTec rivetless nut plates with short edge margins in composites
• Joining different materials with FTI products
• Fatigue testing of expanded products
• Fuel sealing of FTI products in composites
• Electrical conductivity of FTI products in composites
• Arc entry lightning treating of GromEx in composite panels

 Visit our website and login or register to download these and other cold expansion technical briefs.

 

For the third year in a row, FTI received the Boeing Performance Excellence Award - Silver Level.  FTI achieved this award by maintaining a Silver composite performance rating for each month from October 1, 2008, to September 30, 2009. Only 358 out of the 12,000 Boeing suppliers earned this award.

"Boeing and our suppliers are more interconnected now than ever before - combining our talents and capabilities to create the most innovative products and services for our customers and the aerospace industry worldwide," said Ray Conner, Boeing enterprise leader of Supplier Management and vice president and general manager of Supply Chain Management and Operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Every supplier - small and large - is critical to our success, and it is important to recognize these suppliers for demonstrating industry-leading standards of quality, efficiency and performance."

FTI was also honored with the Northrop Grumman Platinum Source award. The award recognizes companies for achieving distinction in product quality, on-time delivery, customer satisfaction, and robust lean processes.

 

FTI will be exhibiting at the 2010 Farnborough Air Show in the PCC Fastener Division booth - Hall 4, Stand F13. If you or someone from your organization will be in attendance, please let us know so we can schedule a meeting. Kale Paulson, VP of Sales and Marketing, and Scott Gulick, VP of Commercial Sales, will be on hand to meet with you. Come by and see the latest in FTI products and technology, especially for composite and hybrid structures.

Send us an email to let us know when you would be available to meet.