Ladish modernisation supports long-term customer agreements

Citation

(2003), "Ladish modernisation supports long-term customer agreements", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775bab.023

Ladish modernisation supports long-term customer agreements

Ladish modernisation supports long-term customer agreements

Keywords: Ladish Co. Inc., Machining, Contracts

Ladish Co. Inc. recently announced that its Cudahy, Wisconsin-based forging division has completed installation of the first of two new Olympia vertical CNC lathes. Each machine will have high- pressure-coolant, "chip blaster'' capabilities, state-of-the-art Fanuc 18i-TA controls, a 32-position tool magazine, part probes, a tool-video-monitoring system, and dedicated power-assisted handling. These cells will enable reductions in set-up and cycle times as well as improvements in tool life. Machining is a key value-added operation in the aerospace forging business. Modernisation is an important factor in Ladish's ability to help customers control and reduce costs. This investment aligns directly with forged product processed through Ladish's patented "Supercooler'' heat-treatment cell.

Year-to-date, Ladish has secured long-term purchase agreements with each of the world's three largest manufacturers of aircraft engines – General Electric, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt and Whitney. Terms were reached with Rolls-Royce in the second quarter of 2002, and with General Electric and Pratt and Whitney in the third quarter of 2002. These contracts cover the delivery of forgings through 2005 and 2006 for an array of commercial as well as military programs.

Kerry L. Woody, President and CEO of Ladish says, "Modernisation proved instrumental in winning this critical core business for the years ahead. Jet engine component sales have represented approximately 70 per cent of our corporate revenues over the last 3 years and, in the face of the difficult aerospace cycle we are weathering, it is a positive development to have three market leaders committed to working with us long term''.

The agreements include new components for the Trent 900 and GP7200 engine programs powering the Airbus A380 superjumbo airliner, along with numerous existing production parts. Woody added, "Agreements such as these can be as beneficial to our customers as they are to Ladish. When jet engine manufacturers commit to work closely with us over a long period of time, we can mutually explore new capital projects and improved processing opportunities to achieve quality, cost, and delivery goals".