Operator Newsletter

Nevada repair and casting center undertakes $4 million renovation

Chromalloy's engine component repair, manufacturing and casting center in Carson City, Nev., is undertaking a $4 million renovation and modernization to expand capacity and enable the operation to deliver parts in record time for the industry. The project will add an additional casting furnace and other new equipment to the superalloy component foundry, as well as better utilize space in a new Lean design that will improve flow and accelerate throughput.

"We are expanding the breadth and level of services for our customers worldwide," said Nat Love, General Manager. "The Arrowhead facility is being completely renovated as we continue delivering repairs and parts to our customers. When completed, the new foundry and manufacturing and repair areas within the factory will significantly expand capacity while allowing us to offer market-leading turnaround times."

The renovation and expansion will result in "a vertically integrated business that provides every gas turbine engine component repair service, from advanced coatings to finished foundry castings to new manufactured parts ready for installation," Love said.

Chromalloy's 192,000-square-foot Arrowhead operation - one of four operations within the Nevada business enterprise - provides turbine component repairs and castings for aerospace and aeroderivative engines that power military and commercial aircraft, marine fleets and electric plants in the energy industry. Customers include major commercial air carriers, the U.S. military and utility companies.

With the installation of a new, higher-capacity foundry furnace, that will bring to a total of 13 superalloy investment casting furnaces at the facility. The operation currently services approximately 15,000 components each year - and that capacity will grow by 33 percent after the modernization is complete, Love said.

"The renovation is being driven by a modern, new Lean factory layout to ensure efficient work flow and work processes," he added. The renovation and modernization project will be completed during the first quarter of 2013. At that time a grand opening will be held for customers.

Netherlands repair station receives Japan Civil Aviation Bureau approval

Chromalloy's engine component repair station at Tilburg, Netherlands, has received Approved Organization Exposition (AOE) certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), authorizing the station to provide FAA-approved Designated Engineering Representative (DER) repairs on All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) components.

"This is Chromalloy's fifth JCAB certificate - a significant milestone that represents the company's commitment to serving our customers in Japan," said Bruce Johnson, Vice President, Engineering.

Chromalloy earlier received JCAB approval for four repair stations in the U.S. - Windsor, Conn.; Carson City, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and San Antonio, Texas. The certificates were issued in accordance with the 2009 Japan Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) that authorizes FAA DER approved repairs as part of the agreement.

The certificates were awarded following rigorous audits by JCAB and determination of operational capabilities to provide repairs on various components in turbine engines powering Japanese commercial aircraft. JCAB approval of the facilities allows the airlines to use Chromalloy DER approved repairs without the company having to apply to JCAB for individual technical approvals of new repairs.

DER is a FAA delegation allowing individuals with authorization to approve certain repairs and alterations on behalf of the FAA, using submitted technical data. Chromalloy has 13 FAA DER authorized experts on staff at its locations around the globe.

20^th annual POWER-GEN Europe to feature industry leaders

The 20^th annual POWER-GEN Europe Conference & Exhibition held at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, on June 12-14 will feature speakers addressing the dynamics of today's energy industry. Michael Suess, CEO, Siemens Energy Sector; Philip Lowe, Director General for Energy, European Commission, Belgium; and Bernhard Fischer, CEO, E.ON Generation, will deliver keynote presentations on June 12.

POWER-GEN Europe has multiple tracks and sessions for participants in the gas-fired, coal, nuclear, steam and renewable energy segments. Sessions will cover all aspects of power generation. Topics include regional and national power strategies, market mechanisms, plant operation and innovations, maintenance tools, monitoring systems, retrofits and new-build strategies.

More than 600 exhibitors are registered and conference planners anticipate approximately 15,000 in attendance. Registration and details are available at http://www.powergeneurope.com/index.html.