David L. Calhoun named Boeing president, CEO

Boeing’s board of directors has named chairman, David L. Calhoun, as president and CEO, replacing ousted CEO and board director Dennis A. Muilenburg. Calhoun remains a board member, while board member Lawrence W. Kellner has become non-executive chairman.

The board of directors says changing leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company as it works to repair relationships with regulators, customers, and stakeholders in wake of the 737 MAX fiasco.

Maxar Technologies sells MacDonald, Dettwiler & Assoc.

Westminster, Colorado-based Earth intelligence and space infrastructure company Maxar Technologies is selling its Canadian division MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to a financial consortium led by Northern Private Capital (NPC) for $765 million.

The transaction includes all of MDA’s Canadian ground stations, radar satellite products, robotics, defense, and satellite components representing approximately 1,900 employees. MDA will operate as a stand-alone company within NPC’s portfolio. Maxar will retain capabilities in geospatial data and analytics, satellites, space robotics, and space infrastructure with MDA continuing to supply Maxar with components and subsystems.

Airbus acquires MTM Robotics

Airbus has acquired industrial automation company MTM Robotics for an undisclosed sum, expanding Airbus’ advanced robotics capabilities. The MTM business will retain its current leadership and 40-person staff, as well as its Seattle-area facility in Mukilteo, Washington.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus Americas Inc., headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, MTM will continue to serve other customers in the aerospace industry. Since 2003, MTM has deployed more than 40 aerospace manufacturing systems comprised of machines, tools, machine software, enterprise software, and support throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

“Airbus and MTM Robotics each believe that tomorrow’s automation in aircraft manufacturing can and must be lighter, more portable, and less capital intensive,” explains Patrick Vigié, head of industrial technologies at Airbus.

Walter acquires Melin Tool Co.

Sandvik Machining Solutions’ Walter division is acquiring privately owned solid carbide tools manufacturer Melin Tool Co. Purchase price of the Cleveland, Ohio-based company was not disclosed.

The acquisition strengthens Walter’s round tool offerings, especially for the aerospace industry and the U.S. channel partner market.

Michael Wochna will remain president of Melin Tool, which has 100 employees.

WHI acquires Aerobond

Fairfield, New Jersey-based WHI Global LLC (WHI) has acquired the assets of Aero-Bond Corp. through Aerobond Composites LLC, headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Since 1989, Aerobond has provided high performance composite structures and assemblies to aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers. Its capabilities include layup, compression molding, adhesive bonding, vulcanization, and fabrication of composite materials including Kevlar, graphite, and fiberglass. Aerobond maintains AS9100 Rev. D and ISO 9001 certifications.

WHI is a vertically integrated manufacturer of precision components, composite structures, and assemblies for aerospace and defense markets with closed-die forging, composite fabrication, 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC machining, assembly and Nadcap heat treat/NDT capabilities. Its manufacturing footprint includes four ITAR registered facilities carrying AS9100 Rev. D and ISO 9001 certifications.

Fullerton Tool Co. acquires Carbro Corp.

Fullerton Tool Co., a manufacturer of precision-made solid carbide cutting tools located in Saginaw, Michigan, has acquired Carbro Corp., a manufacturer of solid carbide routers, drills, reamers, and threaded shank tooling based in Lawndale, California. Carbro Corp. will operate as its own entity as well as Fullerton partner.

Integrated Polymer Solutions acquires Icon Aerospace Technology

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Integrated Polymer Solutions (IPS) has acquired Retford, United Kingdom-based Icon Aerospace Technology. The transaction adds a third AS9100- certified facility for IPS.

Icon designs and manufactures polymer engine seals, fabric-reinforced seals, hoses, and rubber-to-metal bonding solutions used on aerospace platforms including Airbus jetliners, Lockheed Martin F-35, and Bombardier Global 7000.

IPS products include elastomeric seals, gaskets, tooling, hoses, ablatives, EMI/RFI/thermal shielding products, encapsulated O-rings, and composite APU plenums and ducts.

United Grinding North America names new president/CEO

Markus Stolmar has been elected president and CEO of United Grinding North America.

Stolmar has held various positions within the company, starting as the product manager for the optical inspection equipment for Walter, then based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 2016, Stolmar relocated to the North American headquarters in Miamisburg, Ohio, as vice president of tool division sales for Walter and Ewag brands. Most recently he was executive vice president in charge of customer care, finance, human resources, and operations.

Platinum Tooling represents Henninger

Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc., a Prospect Heights, Illinois importer of live tools, angle heads, marking tools, Swiss tools, and multiple spindle tools manufactured by various global suppliers, is now importing Henninger Speed Increasers for North America. Spindle speeder types include mechanical, air, and electric motor-driven styles. Henninger also manufactures custom angle heads, live centers, face drivers, live chucks, and center grinding machines.

Glebar acquires Tridex Technology

Ramsey, New Jersey-based Glebar Co., a precision grinding solutions organization, has acquired Tridex Technology Ltd., which specializes in the design, manufacture, application development, and automation of burr-free electrochemical grinding (ECG) and tube cut-off machines as well as precision abrasive cut-off machines.

ECG is used for aerospace applications with honeycomb materials and turbine airfoils where the material is thin, fragile, or heat sensitive. Precision abrasive technology is used for cutoff of high temperature alloys, titanium, and tool-steel bars.

Safran sells Base2 Solutions

Global Tier 1 aerospace supplier Safran S.A. has sold its Bellevue, Washington-based subsidiary Base2 Solutions to engineering, supply chain, technical recruiting, and information technology (IT) services supplier Belcan LLC, a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners LP.

Base2 offers technology consulting and solutions, including custom software development, information security, and systems engineering and integration.