J U L Y 2 0 1 4
|
2 3
Composites Horizons LLC (Covina, Calif.), a division of
AIP Aerospace, announced on May 6 the addition of a
ceramic-matrix composite (CMC) manufacturing facility
adjacent to its existing polymer-matrix composite (PMC)
facilities in Covina. Included with the expansion is an
$11 million investment in new equipment and processes
for all four of the company's existing facilities.
The 35,000-ft
2
(3,250m
2
) building will be dedicated to
the manufacture of sophisticated oxide-type CMC (OX/
OX CMC). It will house a 4,000-ft
2
(372m
2
) cleanroom with
a dedicated ply cutter, laser projection equipment and a
team of personnel trained in OX/OX CMC production,
plus a 15,000-ft
2
/1,394m
2
assembly area and a sintering
furnace with 8-ft
3
/0.23m
3
capacity and 2500°F/1371°C
temperature capability. Ultimately, the facility also will
house two dedicated autoclaves, an additional produc-
tion sintering furnace, a smaller development furnace,
three additional 5-axis CNC-machining centers, and the
company's executive offces.
The company also reports that it has been selected by
GE Aviation (Cincinnati, Ohio) as a supplier of compo-
nents for an OX/OX CMC exhaust system for a key busi-
ness aircraft engine program — the largest contract in
Composites Horizons' 30-year history.
NEWS BRIEF
0714HPC New&Briefs-OK.indd; 23 6/17/2014 10:23:46 AM