Spirit AeroSystems, Belcan partner

Spirit AeroSystems

Belcan LLC will be an onsite strategic partner in Spirit AeroSystems’ Aerospace Innovation Centre (AIC) in Prestwick, Scotland, when the facility opens.

Belcan, a global supplier of engineering, supply chain, technical recruiting, and information technology services, will provide engineering, program management, and manufacturing resources supporting wing engineering activities.

Dr. Sean Black, Spirit vice president and chief engineer of programs and Keith Matthews, president of Belcan’s international operations, formalized the agreement with leaders from both companies in February, pre-social distancing requirements.

The 85,000ft2 AIC provides a collaborative environment for Spirit and its key partners to work with pre-production equipment in advanced aerostructures design and manufacture.

Watch AIC construction and a virtual fly-through.

NAM recognizes Boeing sustainability leadership

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) presented Boeing a 2020 Sustainability Leadership Award for the company’s aerospace carbon fiber recycling efforts, diverting waste from landfills worldwide.

Since 2018, Boeing has partnered with UK-based ELG Carbon Fibre to recycle excesses of the lightweight material. Boeing collects the scrap material, and ELG heat treats it to remove binding agents, producing clean material to sell to third parties making products such as electronic accessories and automotive equipment.

“Boeing is demonstrating that you can be environmentally sustainable in a cost-effective way,” says Bryan Scott, vice president of Environment, Health, & Safety at Boeing.

The carbon fiber recycling process has been implemented at 11 Boeing global airplane manufacturing sites. Boeing will train companies on the recycling process, beginning with its supply chain.

“Creating commercially viable solutions for recycling carbon fiber composites is good for the industry and good for the environment,” says Tia Benson Tolle, director of Advanced Materials and Product Development at Boeing.

Jorgensen boosts sales, management teams

Jorgensen Conveyors and Filtration Solutions announces several promotions and a key hire:

• Chuck D’Amico promoted to president and CEO
• Karl Kleppek hired as director of sales and marketing
• Dustin Krueger promoted to manager of engineering

A third-generation owner and grandson of the company’s founders, D’Amico has served Jorgensen for 26 years during a period of significant growth as manufacturing manager, vice president of manufacturing, and director of operations. He assumes his new role upon retirement of former co-principle John D’Amico, who managed North American sales, marketing, engineering, and product development and was a member of the core executive team that helped the organization more than double in size during his tenure. John remains an owner and board member.

With extensive executive-level sales, business-development, and marketing experience, Kleppek brings more than 30 years of professional experience to Jorgensen, with work in the manufacturing realm including GF Machining Solutions, Fanuc America, and Siemens Energy and Automation.

With nearly 15 years of service, Krueger has spent his entire professional career with Jorgensen, most recently as engineering lead person and product development engineer.

Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group Inc. appointments

Megan named VP of Smart Manufacturing Programs

Advanced Manufacturing Int’l. Inc. (AMI), a Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group Inc. (MTDG) subsidiary, has selected Larry Megan, Ph.D. as its vice president of Smart Manufacturing Programs.

“Megan possesses a proven track record of developing and implementing successful digital manufacturing strategies,” says AMI CEO Stephan Biller, Ph.D. “He is incredibly skilled at developing and scaling digital solutions across all segments of manufacturing, including operations, supply chain, logistics, business and sales processes, and B2B customer engagement.”

Megan brings more than two decades of smart manufacturing knowledge. Prior to joining AMI, he held senior positions at Linde (formerly Praxair). At the University of Buffalo (New York), he serves on the Industrial Engineering Department Advisory Council and is an industrial lead for the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership.

MTDG is the not-for-profit holding company of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and new subsidiary AMI.

Veranse named VP, CIO

MTDG appointed Joe Veranese, formerly NCDMM’s CIO, to vice president and CIO.

During his tenure at NCDMM, Veranese was instrumental in fostering the strategic relationship between NCDMM, Siemens, and Deloitte. Forging this affiliation led to the creation of the America Makes Digital Storefront, built in the AWS Cloud using Siemens PLM tools.

Veranese previously served NCDMM as CIO, corporate services director, and business systems manager. Before that, he spent 20 years in the financial sector and served as the operations manager of a bank services organization.

FAA certifies GE9X engine

GE Aviation’s GE9X engine has been certified by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorities, a key milestone in its journey to power the twin-engine Boeing 777X family.

The FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) Part 33 certification involved eight test engines which completed nearly 5,000 hours and 8,000 cycles.

The GE9X engine is designed to achieve 10% lower specific fuel consumption (SFC) compared to the GE90-115B and 5% better SFC than other engines in its class and operate with less smog-causing emissions. GE has received orders and commitments for more than 600 GE9X engines.

GE’s working with Boeing to complete the 777X flight test program and entry into service. Eight GE9X test engines and two test spares have been delivered for Boeing’s four 777X test airplanes. Several GE9X production engines have been assembled, and GE Aviation is in the process of completing factory acceptance tests.

GE has established GE9X engine training courses at its Customer Technical Education Center (CTEC) facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. The CTEC team is also working augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) training courses to supplement in-person training.

Index Corp. names new president, CEO

Cris Taylor will be the president and CEO of CNC turning machines manufacturer Index Corp., effective Jan. 1, 2021. Taylor will be taking over for Tom Clark, who is retiring at the end of 2020. Taylor will join the Index Group in October, ensuring a seamless transition for the organization and customers.

Taylor has more than 30 years of experience in the machine tool industry, in Europe and the United States, including 27 years at Chiron. Most recently, he served eight years as managing director of Stama, Chiron’s sister company.