Historical Timeline

Explore six decades of Chromalloy innovation.

Since 1951, professionals from around the world have joined Chromalloy to be at the forefront of their fields. Their ingenuity, research and investment in the future built a solid company that continues to make its mark around the world.

Entrepreneurs invest in a European invention.

Small group of entrepreneurs in New York City buys patent rights to a European invention - a process for depositing chromium on the surface of carbon steel at elevated temperatures to protect the steel from corrosion. Through this process, the outer layers of steel are converted to chromium alloy or 'chrom-alloy'.

Jets revolutionize travel.

The jet age comes to civilian passengers, revolutionizing travel.

Chromalloy American Corporation enters gas turbine engine business.

Chromalloy American Corporation enters gas turbine engine business, offering diffusion coating that provides oxidation protection for nozzle guide vanes in first generation commercial aircraft jet engines.
Photo Credit: British Airways

Chromalloy American Corporation incorporated as an R&D company.

Chromalloy American Corporation incorporated as a research and development company in the metals processing field.

FAA is created.

The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the FAA to be responsible for the safety of civil aviation.

Chromalloy American Corporation sales exceed $5 million.

Chromalloy American Corporation annual sales total $5.5 million. Five years later (1964), annual sales will total $25.5 million.

Chromalloy innovators dramatically increase engine life.

Chromalloy pioneers Richard Wachtell and Richard Seelig develop a broader technique that includes use of an aluminum-based coating to combat oxidation in certain hot sections components of the Boeing 707 engine. By providing greater oxidation protection, the technique increased the life of the engines 100 times over the original hours of service.
Photo Credit: Boeing Photo

Chromalloy American Corp. expands to meet growing demand.

Chromalloy American Corp. expands as burgeoning jet age produces new aircraft and higher thrust turbine engines to power them.
Photo Credit: José Moré

Vietnam War necessitates greater reliability and performance of aircraft engines.

Vietnam War necessitates greater reliability and performance of aircraft engines powering military aircraft. Chromalloy coatings incorporated universally into aircraft engines, allowing engines to burn hotter and produce more thrust.

Turbine Support division opens in San Antonio.

Chromalloy American Corp. opens Turbine Support division in San Antonio for repairs and coatings on compressors and combustion section of commercial jet engines.

Chromalloy opens start-up technology center in Orangeburg, NY.

Chromalloy American Corp. opens a start-up technology center, the Research and Technology Division in Orangeburg, N.Y., for component coatings, repair techniques and manufacturing. In the decades that follow, the facility grows to become the largest operating site.

First flight of the Concorde.

The Concorde, a turbojet powered, supersonic airliner able to cruise at twice the speed of sound.
Photo Credit: BAC Picture

Chromalloy sales total $300 million. Facilities open in Oklahoma and Israel.

Company annual sales total $300 million. As part of a continuing growth plan, a new facility in Oklahoma opens the same year. And, Chromalloy Israel Ltd. is established as a 50:50 JV with Israeli Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI).

First commercial flight of Boeing 747.

The 747 is a turning point in commercial air travel and passenger capacity, far exceeding earlier capacity and fueling continuing advancements in jumbo jets.
Photo Credit: Boeing Photo

Chromalloy American Corp. opens Netherlands facility.

Chromalloy American Corp. opens a facility in Tilburg, Netherlands, providing repairs and service on engine cold section.

Chromalloy performs electron beam overlay coatings.

Electron beam overlay coater purchased and Chromalloy American Corp. begins coating components using metal alloys melted by electron beams in a vacuum chamber. The process enables blades to withstand higher temperatures, thereby allowing the combustion engine to burn hotter and produce more thrust.

Chromalloy becomes sole owner of Chromalloy Israel Ltd.

Company buys out Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) JV to become sole owner of Chromalloy Israel Ltd.

U.S. Airline Deregulation Act signed into law.

U.S. Airline Deregulation Act removes the regulation of fares, air routes and carrier entry into the industry.

Chromalloy New England formed in Connecticut.

Chromalloy New England formed in Manchester, Connecticut for services on PW6 aircraft engine. Facility later expands to serve other thrust category powerplants.

Deregulation fuels an increase in airline passenger capacity.

In the early 1980s, deregulation fuels an increase in airline passenger capacity. At the end of the decade, a global oil crisis and economic recession forces airlines to find new ways to reduce costs. Airlines look to Chromalloy and other suppliers for new technologies to improve performance and reduce costs.
Photo Credit: BBC, Horizontal Drilling

Dundee, Scotland facility opens in the U.K.

Dundee, Scotland, facility opens to overhaul industrial gas turbine engines. Facility services expand to aircraft engines.

Sun Chemical Corp. acquires 36% stake in Chromalloy American Corp.

Sun Chemical Corp., formerly called General Printing Ink until its name was changed to Sun Chemical in 1945, acquires 36% stake in publicly held Chromalloy American Corp.
Photo Credit: 1953 Annual Report

Chromalloy American Corp.'s Aeroservices Ltd. is established at Eastwood, U.K.

Indicative of growth and expansion around the world, Chromalloy American Corp.'s Aeroservices Ltd. is established at Eastwood, U.K.

Chromalloy develops RT-33 Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition thermal barrier coating.

Chromalloy American Corp.'s Orangeburg, N.Y., operation develops the RT-33 Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) thermal barrier coating for turbine engine blades and components, an industry first. This technology becomes incorporated into OEM engine design, resulting in power systems that are more fuel efficient and produce more thrust, longer turbine life and significant operating cost reductions.

Sun Chemical and Chromalloy merge to form Sequa.

Sun Chemical and Chromalloy American Corp. merge. During the same year, Sun Chemical is sold and the newly merged entity is renamed Sequa Corporation. Norman E. Alexander who operated Sun Chemical as president since 1957 runs Sequa. It is classified as a diversified manufacturer and producer of a wide variety of industrial products. The Chromalloy business operates as Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation.

Chromalloy expands in Arizona and France.

The company opens Chromalloy Arizona in Phoenix to supply AlliedSignal's Engines, Systems & Services division with blade and vane coatings. The company also acquires Heurchrome in Paris, France.

Chromalloy opens new locations in California, Mexico and France.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. opens facility in Mexicali, Mexico-a satellite site to the Gardena, California operation. In addition, Chromalloy acquires Jet Air in El Cajon, California, a honeycomb seal and sheet metal assembly concern. This same year, Malichaud of Orleans, France, becomes a subsidiary, specializing in turbine and compressor airfoil machining.

Chromalloy American Corp. enters marine, industrial gas turbine and aero-derivative segments.

Chromalloy American Corp. enters the marine and industrial gas turbine and aero-derivative turbine component repair and coatings segment, providing services to operators of electrical power plants, cogeneration plants, and oil and gas offshore platforms, and for military and marine applications.

Photo Credit: Calgary Herald

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. enters the casting business.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. enters the casting business to add full manufacturing capability to its offering, acquiring Aerodyne, Inc. of Tampa. For the first time, the company offers operators a "one-stop shop" for turbine service, repair, casting and coatings.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. annual sales total $900 million.

Following decades of growth and expansion, Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. annual sales total $900 million.

Chromalloy develops new high performance coatings.

Leading the industry in advanced metallurgical research and development for coatings for gas turbine engine components, Chromalloy operations develop aluminide coatings, platinum aluminide coatings, ceramic coatings and other unique coatings for all major aircraft and industrial gas turbine engine original equipment manufacturers. The coatings are part of the high performance engine design and enable power systems to burn hotter and produce more thrust, at a lower cost.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. acquires Turbine Services Ltd.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. continues organic growth and growth through acquisition, acquiring Turbine Services Ltd., which originally began operation in the U.K. in 1976.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. opens Thailand facility.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. establishes a repair and service facility in Thailand to serve operators in the Asia Pacific region.

Chromalloy's U.K. operation performs advanced coatings.

Chromalloy's U.K. operation at the Clover Nook Derbyshire coating facility performs advanced coatings for OEM turbine parts.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. opens two Carson City, Nevada sites.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. continues to develop satellite facilities to its Gardena, California, operation, opening two Carson City, Nevada, sites for turbine repair and service. Eight years later (2001), the company builds a casting furnace in Carson City, offering turbine operators two component casting facilities - Carson City and Tampa.

Chromalloy Power Services opens in San Antonio.

Chromalloy Power Services in San Antonio, Texas opens for APU and small gas turbine engine repair, overhaul and testing.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. begins designing and manufacturing PMA HPT blades.

In response to the need for an alternative to OEM high pressure turbine blades, Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. begins high pressure turbine blade Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) design and manufacture.

BELAC joint venture is launched.

BELAC Engineering LLC, a Chromalloy-led JV with commercial airlines, organizes in temporary space in Clearwater, Fla., with five employees.

U.S. Air Force awards Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. contract for component repair.

U.S. Air Force awards Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. contract for component repair on TF39 turbofan at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio. Shortly thereafter, Chromalloy Component Services established in San Antonio adjacent to Chromalloy Power Services facility.

Chromalloy's Turbine Surface Technologies Ltd. enters joint venture with Rolls-Royce.

Chromalloy's Turbine Surface Technologies Ltd. enters a 50:50 joint venture with Rolls-Royce to provide coatings for Rolls-Royce engine parts. In Glasgow, U.K., Turbine Services Ltd. is established by Chromalloy. The same year, BELAC LLC moves to a new Oldsmar, Fla., manufacturing operation.

Turbine Services Ltd. acquires 49% share in Masaood John Brown/MJB International Limited Co.

Turbine Services Ltd., an operating agreement between Chromalloy's U.K. operation and Siemens Holdings plc., acquires 49% share in Masaood John Brown/MJB International Limited Co., located in the U.A.E., to perform industrial gas turbine field services and parts repairs.
Photo Credit: Masaood John Brown

Chromalloy's U.K. operation begins industrial gas turbine repairs.

Chromalloy's U.K. operation begins performing industrial gas turbine (IGT) repairs. The same year the operation inks its first major IGT repair contract, with the Saudi Electric Company.

Carson City, Nevada casting facility goes online.

BELAC receives groundbreaking FAA approvals.

BELAC LLC also receives first FAA ISO/AS registered Quality Control system approval. During this same year, FAA approves first engine test plan for BELAC High Pressure Turbine engine blades. BELAC also applies to the FAA for Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for CFM 56-3 HPT blades.

BELAC LLC receives first FAA letter for the manufacture of HPT blades.

BELAC LLC, a Chromalloy-led JV with commercial airlines, receives first FAA letter for the manufacture of HPT blades. Also, BELAC sells first set of exported HPT blades, CFM 56-3, to Lufthansa Technique. And, BELAC sells first set of HPT blades, CFM 56-3, to United Airlines.

Power Developments International developed in Dubai.

Power Developments International, a Free Zone Company, was developed in the Jebel Ali Free Zone of Dubai, by Inology and Masaood John Brown/MJB International Limited Co.

BELAC LLC submits First Source Approval Request to the U.S. Department of the Air Force.

BELAC LLC, a Chromalloy-led JV with commercial airlines, submits First Source Approval Request to the U.S. Department of the Air Force to qualify CFM 56-3 HPT blades on DOD aircraft.

49% of Chromalloy's TSL business transfers to Siemens.

In the industrial gas turbine segment, 49% of Chromalloy's TSL business transfers to Siemens.

BELAC earns manufacturing approval from U.S. Air Force.

U.S. Air Force grants BELAC LLC manufacturing approval for CFM 56-3 HPT blades.
Photo Credit: US Department of Defense

Chromalloy's U.K. operation receives major contract from the U.K. Ministry of Defense.

Chromalloy's U.K. operation receives major contract from the U.K. Ministry of Defense to provide repairs and advanced EBPVD ceramic coatings for the RB199 turbine vane.

BELAC LLC submits application for PMA for CF34 HPT blades.

BELAC LLC, a Chromalloy-led JV with commercial airlines, submits application to the FAA for Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) for CF34 first and second stage HPT blades.

Sequa Corporation is purchased by the Carlyle Group.

Sequa Corporation, a publicly traded company of which 54% of outstanding shares are owned by the Norman E. Alexander family, is purchased by the Carlyle Group, the world's largest private equity firm. Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. is Sequa's largest business unit, accounting for 40% of revenues.

BELAC LLC submits PMA application for PW2000 HPT blades.

BELAC LLC, a Chromalloy-led JV with commercial airlines, submits an application to the FAA for Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) for PW2000 first and second stage HPT blades.

Armand F. Lauzon, Jr. named Sequa Corporation CEO and President of Chromalloy

Armand F. Lauzon, Jr. is appointed the new Sequa Corporation Chief Executive Officer and President of Chromalloy, and a new executive leadership team is established.

Chromalloy opens FAA compliance office in Massachusetts.

Chromalloy opens a new FAA compliance office in Burlington, Massachusetts to enhance communication with the agency.

Chromalloy strengthens global brand.

Chromalloy adopts a single naming convention for all units and locations in the company to create a cohesive brand around the world.

Chromalloy expands Tampa casting facility.

Chromalloy expands its Tampa, Florida, casting facility at a new, larger location to offer additional services to operators in aerospace, industrial and marine segments.

BELAC receives FAA approval for PW4000 HPT blades.

BELAC LLC, a Chromalloy-led JV with commercial airlines, receives FAA approval for first stage HPT blades for the PW4000 turbine engine.

Chromalloy opens a new engineering office in Stuart, Florida.

Chromalloy expands operations in Bangkok, Thailand.

Chromalloy expands its Bangkok, Thailand facility, doubling capacity to offer turbine engine operators in the region additional services, including replacement parts, advanced repairs and coatings.

Chromalloy opens office in Beijing, China

To expand its global network, Chromalloy opens new office in Beijing, China, to better serve customers in the region.

Chromalloy partners with Rolls-Royce on Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Virginia.

Chromalloy Korea, Ltd., established in Seoul, South Korea.