Chromalloy Joins Rolls-Royce Team to Develop New Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing

ORANGEBURG, N.Y., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Chromalloy, the world's largest independent supplier of advanced repairs, coatings and FAA-approved replacement parts for turbine airfoils and critical engine components, announced today that it will partner with Rolls-Royce as an Organizing Industry Member on the development of the new Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM).

The CCAM manufacturing research center will be developed at Crosspointe in Prince George County, Virginia, as a public / private partnership between Rolls-Royce, eight Organizing Industry Member companies, and Virginia's leading public research facilities – the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

"For 60 years Chromalloy's commitment to advanced engine technologies has guided the company's product development and growth.  Today that vision continues with the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which will play a significant role in propulsion system advancement and innovation," said Armand F. Lauzon, Jr., President.  "Chromalloy is pleased to join Rolls-Royce, the founding industry members and Virginia's distinguished universities in the development of this important new center."

The research center's charter is to bridge the gap between research performed in the university environment and industry product development.  CCAM will accelerate the transition from development of technologies through proof of concept and application.

Crosspointe, near Petersburg, Va., in Prince George County is the site of the new Rolls-Royce jet engine manufacturing facility now under development.  The new manufacturing facility is being built on a 1,000-acre site and will be the company's largest in North America.

The CCAM research center will be built on land adjacent to the new Rolls-Royce manufacturing facility.

The 50,000 square foot CCAM research center will be built on a 20-acre site and will include office, research and educational space.  Construction will begin in 2013.

As an Organizing Industry Member during CCAM's formation, Chromalloy has pledged resources, funding and research personnel.  The company will appoint one voting member to the CCAM Board of Directors, Industry Operations Board and Technical Advisory Council.

The center will perform generic research, which will benefit each of the CCAM member companies.  Research will be directed by the CCAM Technical Advisory Council and supported by the center's industry operations board.  Chromalloy and the other CCAM members can utilize the results of the generic research for their own companies' technical developments.

Chromalloy has locations in 17 countries and counts as its customers many of the world's major airlines and the U.S. military.  In addition to aircraft operators, the company provides industrial turbine operators including electrical utilities and offshore platform operators with gas turbine engine parts, coatings and advanced repairs.

During its 60-year history, Chromalloy's continued investments in research and development of coating, and repair and manufacturing technology has led to the development of electron beam physical vapor deposition with ceramic materials, vacuum plasma, diffused precious metal / aluminide coatings, and vision-guided interactive laser welding and drilling for most advanced turbine engine components, as well as many other advanced technologies.

The company's engineered components and blades are subject to the same FAA requirements and scrutiny as OEM-produced equipment.  In support of marine and land-based gas turbines, Chromalloy employs identical engineering disciplines used to produce its FAA-certified parts.  More information is at www.chromalloy.com.

Chromalloy has evolved from a gas turbine parts repair business into the leading independent supplier of advanced repairs, FAA approved replacement parts and maintenance, repair and overhaul for gas turbines used in aviation and land-based applications. Chromalloy serves the airline, military, marine and industrial gas turbine segments with a broad range of services at locations in 17 countries around the globe. Chromalloy is authorized by the FAA and EASA and many other NAAs, and is qualified under ISO and NADCAP. Chromalloy is a subsidiary of Sequa Corporation.

Sequa Corporation is a diversified industrial company with operations in the aerospace, metal coatings and automotive industries. Sequa is a Carlyle Group company. For additional information, visit www.sequa.com.

Media Contact:
Cathy Gedvilas
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SOURCE Chromalloy