5 Jan 2012
HITCO Receives Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award
Shanghai,January 5,2012. The SGL Group — The Carbon Company. HITCO Carbon Composites, a subsidiary of SGL Group – today announced that it is a recipient of the 2011 Defense Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Achievement Award for its work on the Joint Strike Fighter(JSF) Program. The award, sponsored by the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP), seeks to recognize and honor those individuals for outstanding technical accomplishments in achieving the Department of Defense ManTech Program vision to “realize a responsive world-class manufacturing capability to affordably meet Warfighters’ needs throughout the defense system life cycle.” The award was presented by Mr. Brett Lambert, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy.
“We are honored to be a member of the winning ManTech team,” said Anthony Lawson, HITCO’s President. “Through the diligent work of our people and our team members, we were able to meet or exceed all of the project’s goals. Along with the support of our parent company, SGL Group, we continue to invest in capabilities, people, equipment and facilities to deliver high quality composite components to the industry.”
HITCO worked as a member of a team that included: Navy ManTech, Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Company, Cytec Engineered Materials, MAG Cincinnati, Composites Manufacturing Technology Center and the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office. The goal of the team was to optimize the Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) process for fabricating carbon fiber / bismaleimide composites in order to enhance JSF productivity and affordability. Of the over 100 funded ManTech projects this year, 10 received nominations for the 2011 Award. The HITCO team was selected for the award among the 5 finalists.
In selecting the HITCO team for this award, the Defense ManTech Office cited the economic impact of this project. In return for a Navy ManTech investment of US$3.7 million for the project, the JSF Program expects to realize cost savings estimated at $100 million during the next 20 years. HITCO has a multi-decade long track record of supplying composite components to Lockheed Martin production programs, beginning with Radomes for the C-130 Hercules family of transports; continuing with manufacture of composite components for the F-22 Raptor; and most recently wing skins, nacelle skins and other components for JSF.
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About HITCO Carbon Composites.
HITCO Carbon Composites, a subsidiary of SGL Group – The Carbon Company, is a leading supplier of composite structures and advanced materials primarily for the aerospace / aircraft and defense markets. Founded in 1922 and based in Gardena, California, HITCO was an early specialist in composite structures and materials. Today HITCO continues to pursue its goal of becoming the premier Tier II Aerostructures supplier for commercial aviation, military and space applications. Additionally, HITCO has a leading global position as a supplier of high temperature materials and carbon-carbon brakes for military & commercial aircraft, high performance race cars and high value industrial applications
About SGL Group – The Carbon Company
SGL Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of carbon-based products. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group’s core competencies are its expertise in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and engineering know-how gained over many years. These competencies enable the Company to make full use of its broad material base. SGL Group’s carbon-based materials combine several unique properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance as well as high mechanical strength combined with low weight. Due to the paradigm shift in the use of materials, there is a growing demand for SGL Group’s high-performance materials and products from an increasing number of industries. Products from SGL Group are used predominantly in the steel, aluminum, automotive, chemical and glass/ceramics industries. However, manufacturers in the semiconductor, battery, solar/wind energy, environmental protection, aerospace and defense industries as well as in the nuclear energy industry also figure among the Company’s customers.
With 45 production sites in Europe, North America and Asia as well as a service network covering more than 100 countries, SGL Group is a company with a global presence. In 2010, the Company’s workforce of around 6,300 generated sales of €1,382 million. The Company’s head office is located in Wiesbaden/Germany.