ANAHEIM, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2014) As Kaman Aerospace Group enters Heli-Expo 2014 the company is significantly expanding its reach, capabilities and position as an award-winning supplier for leading aerospace Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
The company’s restructured Aerosystems Group, led by President Jim Larwood, has fueled much of Kaman’s rotorcraft market growth through new and ongoing agreements with Bell Helicopter, Sikorsky Aircraft, MD Helicopters, and others. Visit Kaman during Heli-Expo at Exhibit 4922. Throughout the convention, Kaman will spotlight a new video program entitled, “Integrated Engineering for Flight-Critical Structures.” “We’ve set the stage for another successful year,” said Larwood. “From door assemblies and fixed wing structures to fuselage structures and control surfaces, Kaman Aerosystems offers seamless one-point supply for faster, more efficient development-to-delivery of flight-critical structures.”
The Kaman Engineering Services subsidiary has opened new offices at Clemson University in Charleston, S.C., to meet growing requirements for engineering skills and talent. Kaman engineers are also located at Boeing’s North Charleston production facility, performing stress analysis work in support of 787 Dreamliner manufacturing. During 2012, Kaman Engineering Services was named a Boeing Supplier of the Year.
In addition, two new Kaman facilities are slated to open in the first quarter of 2014, including a Kaman Specialty Bearings and Engineered Products facility in Hochstadt, Germany, and a new state-of-the-art tooling facility in Lancashire, England.
Ongoing successes include:
- A contract to deliver 40 cockpits (including doors and transparencies), and lower fuselages (including skids), for the Bell AH-1Z Zulu helicopter. Two complete Zulu structures were delivered in 2013 and production is set to accelerate in 2014. Work is performed in the company’s Jacksonville, Fla., facility.
- Additional work, for Boeing, will continue with deliveries of CH-47 composite engine inlet screens and tunnel covers.
- New products, including Kaman Specialty Bearings and Engineered Products high-speed drive systems and new high performance helicopter bearings.
- Kaman also manufactures skin-to-core composite layups for Bell commercial helicopter blades, and is on track to deliver 28 CH-148 composite tail rotor pylons, completely stuffed, in 2014.
- During 2013, Kaman entered into a three year, approximately $120 million contract with the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver ten Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite aircraft, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support.
- The company will celebrate the 20th anniversary of K-MAX helicopter certification in 2014, and that aircraft’s proud legacy of service continues with the Kaman/Lockheed Martin Team and the U.S. Marine Corps’ operation of the K-MAX® unmanned aerial system. The program that began as a six-month trial has expanded into a three-year contract through 2014, and Kaman continues work to expand the K-MAX helicopter as a program of record.
About Kaman
Kaman Aerospace Group is a segment of Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN) founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman. Headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Kaman Corporation conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets. The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; aerostructure engineering design analysis and FAA certification services; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. Additionally, the company is a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates more than 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across North America. Kaman offers more than four million items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation and MRO supplies to customers in virtually every industry. Kaman also provides engineering, design and support for automation, electrical, linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well as belting and rubber fabrication, customized mechanical services, hose assemblies, repair, fluid analysis and motor management. More information is available at www.kaman.com.
