Exelis [XLS] July 17 said it has licensed patented manufacturing technology from Belgium-based Bodair S.A. to produce composite struts, tubes and rods (STaR) for military and commercial aircraft applications.
The new Exelis STaR product line expands the company’s aerostructures solutions and supports the aerospace industry’s demand for high-performance, light-weight structural hardware.
Exelis will use the new technology to produce a variety of composite hardware components under the STaR product line, including floor beam and wing box struts, control rods and torque tubes.
The unique Bodair technology allows for rapid development and reconfiguration of product design and offers the capability to produce monolithic carbon fiber struts or integrate metallic fittings during the automated manufacturing process.
As a result, the STaR products are lower weight while achieving the same strength requirements compared with other composite production methods. In addition, the composite hardware provides much higher strength-to-weight ratio vs. traditional metallic parts.
“The newly acquired technology provides Exelis with a competitive advantage as the aerospace industry continues to expand the use of composites looking for new opportunities to reduce the weight of aircraft,” said Mike Blair, vice president and general manager of Exelis Aerostructures. “The STaR product line offers customers significant weight savings without compromising strength and durability. The combination of the unique manufacturing process and automation technology positions us to meet the market demands with the ability to produce upward of 40,000 STaR parts per year.”
Aerostructures has been identified as one of Exelis’ four strategic growth platforms. Exelis will produce the STaR products at its composite design and manufacturing center in Salt Lake City.