M7 Aerospace Launches Quick-Turnaround Chemical Processing Program

Feb. 26, 2009
Processes available include anodizing, alodining, primer, and paint application.

SAN ANTONIO -- M7 Aerospace launches a quick-turnaround wet processing program to the aerospace manufacturing community. The processes available include anodizing, alodining, primer, and paint application. M7 Aerospace is able to provide quick-turnaround within six business days or less of receiving an order.

M7 Aerospace is Nadcap (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) certified for anodizing, alodining, cadmium plating, paint and primer applications, aluminum heat treating and non-destructive testing.

Located in San Antonio, M7 Aerospace's 25,000-square-foot chemical processing area is one of the largest aerospace processing lines in the Southwestern United States.

M7's processing line has 17 chemical tanks some as long as 34 feet. This process line originally supported the production of the Dornier 328 wing during the late 1990s. M7 is now able to offer these unique processing capabilities to its customers for special jobs – such as anodizing 32-foot-long main rotor blades for the S-64 Erickson Air-Crane.

M7 Aerospace is currently processing 10,000 to 12,000 parts a month. This represents less than 25 percent of M7's total processing capacity.

To facilitate this new program, M7 Aerospace has implemented special handling techniques to assure traceability for quick-turnaround chemical processing orders. These techniques allow M7 to move quick-turnaround chemical processing orders through their facility separately from other manufacturing projects. A Linx 6900 high speed part marking system has been incorporated into M7's chemical processing line to assure clear accurate identification and tracking of parts.

"In addition to our sheet metal and machine part capability we are able to offer other fabrication shops our processing capabilities that are essential in metal manufacturing," says Buck Kilgore, Vice President of Aerostructures Manufacturing for M7 Aerospace. "With the Just-In-Time inventory practices many of our customers are moving toward, taking days out of a parts manufacturing process has become a way of life in meeting our customer’s needs."

As an approved supplier to major aerospace clients including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Spirit Aerosystems, AgustaWestland, Sikorsky, MD Helicopter, Erickson Air-Crane, Bell Helicopter, and Lockheed Martin. M7’s manufacturing division supports programs such as the KC-135, C-130, F-16 S-92, UH-60, MD500/600, C-17 and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

For more information click here.