Cincinnati Lamb Adds Tape Laying and Fiber Placement
HEBRON, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003 - As the world prepares to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight (December 17), Cincinnati Lamb (Cincinnati Machine and Lamb Technicon) is proud to be part of this legacy through its position as the top producer of equipment, technologies and services to the world's aircraft producers and their supply chains. With a move to a new facility, coupled with the introduction of new products and new product line acquisitions, the 120-year-old icon finds itself flying high.
Recently, the company completed its move to a facility that will serve as its world headquarters for the design, production and integration of high performance metal-cutting equipment and automated composites processing systems for the aerospace market. Company operating expenses at the new Aerospace Center of Excellence will be reduced significantly from the previous facility. The new Center will also streamline functionality and improve operating efficiency in day-to-day activities.
As part of the move, the company invested to upgrade office and training areas and add a new environmentally-controlled manufacturing addition to accommodate production of its automated composites systems, which include Tape Laying and Fiber Placement equipment. The new composites bay opened in November. The first machines built will be used in the production of composite components for a European producer of commercial airline products.
While teams of people worked through the logistics of the move, other core teams focused on developing products and methods to improve manufacturing processes. Today, new aircraft programs are forcing greater demands on component producers, thus creating the need for better products, processing tools and support from machine tool manufacturers.
Throughout the year, Cincinnati Lamb has maintained a steady stream of new product introductions such as its HyperMach(TM) line of linear motor, 5-axis profiling machines and new automated drilling systems. The HyperMach line was developed to meet aerospace manufacturers' growing interest in the functionality of faster equipment and downstream benefits realized by manufacturing fewer, yet more complex parts. The automated drilling systems offered by Cincinnati Lamb are a result of a development-and-build project with Lockheed Martin for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. These extremely large machines are utilized for wide-variety processing of large, monolithic structures comprised of materials ranging from aluminum, titanium and composites.
In addition to new product development by Cincinnati Lamb, the company acquired new lines from other well-known aerospace solutions providers AB Marwin Ltd. (UK) and Modig Machine Tool (Sweden). The product lines, made available through bankruptcy, are unique in application and complement Cincinnati Lamb's already extensive product portfolio. From AB Marwin, the AUTOMAX line of Horizontal High Speed Profilers has been added to the Cincinnati Lamb arsenal. These proven machines deliver multiple benefits including superior chip management, reduced floor space as well as reduced tool and fixture costs. The PowerFlow from Modig is a dual spindle machining system specifically designed for high speed processing of aircraft stringers.
Since acquiring these product lines, Cincinnati Lamb has received launch orders for each and is actively working with a number of customers on additional opportunities.
It is projected that the commercial aerospace-manufacturing sector will remain soft into 2005. However, activity surrounding Boeing's new 7E7 and Airbus' A380 has Cincinnati Lamb busy participating on development teams for both new aircraft. As manufacturing for defense-related aircraft and systems gains momentum, the company has received orders to support programs such as the F-35 JSF and Europe's EF2000 Eurofighter. In the defense arena, Cincinnati Lamb is providing products, technologies and processing know-how critical for achieving low cost, higher performing aircraft.
Aerospace customers like what they see. "Time and time again, our customers compliment us on our ability to bring new products to them that truly help them to achieve their goals," said Jeff Price, Vice President and General Manager at Cincinnati Lamb's Cincinnati Operations. "Those that have visited the new facility are enthusiastic about our Aerospace Center of Excellence and view it as something that will contribute to the next century of flight."
About Cincinnati Lamb:
Cincinnati Lamb designs, builds and integrates high-volume and flexible machining and assembly systems as well as stand-alone production equipment for global aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment and general machining markets. The company offers technology-driven solutions that include composites processing equipment, profilers, routers, and five-axis CNC machining centers; horizontal and vertical machining centers and turning centers; and automated assembly and test machines and systems. Additionally, the company provides the manufacturing industry's most comprehensive package of service and support through its PLUS program. Cincinnati Lamb, a union of two of the machine tool industry's most respected manufacturers -- Cincinnati Machine and Lamb Technicon -- is a division of UNOVA Industrial Automation Systems and is headquartered in Warren, Michigan. For more information: www.lambtech.com and www.cinmach.com
Contact:
Ms. Jami Leininger
Cincinnati Lamb
Tel: 859-534-4839
Fax: 859-534-4995
or
(Agency) Steve Penn
French & Rogers Inc.
Tel: 248-641-0044
Fax: 248-641-1718