Lillian Smereczynsky, quality manager, SIFCO ASC, explores the requirements of aviation authorities, ensuring that every component repair upholds the highest airworthiness and passenger safety standards.

In aerospace manufacturing, the repair and maintenance of key aircraft components emerge as pillars of resilience and innovation. The commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to refine repair processes is crucial in ensuring the industry’s commitment to excellence, safety, and sustainability.

The defence and military sector is a substantial consumer of aerospace parts. Governments worldwide allocate resources to bolster defence expenditures, strengthen national security, and sustain military prowess. This drives the requirement for aerospace parts across various military platforms, including aircraft, helicopters, missiles, and other defence systems. In addition to the continuous advancements in aerospace technologies, you can see why the industry is continually growing.

To ensure that components uphold the highest standard, having Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is essential as it validates that their products or processes comply with FAA regulations and are safe for use in the national airspace system. Additionally, Nadcap accreditation serves as a hallmark of excellence in manufacturing. Achieving Nadcap accreditation demonstrates a company's commitment to quality, process control, and continuous improvement, instilling customer confidence and fostering trust within the industry.

Recently, SIFCO ASC’s facility in Texas has achieved both accreditations, further strengthening our commitment to improving the aerospace and defence industry. To accomplish these industry milestones, we went through an application process, pre-assessments, and an extensive on-site audit of our facility’s operations, methods, and quality management systems. Each involves rigorous testing, evaluation, and documentation to demonstrate compliance with airworthiness standards, design requirements, performance criteria and operational guidelines.

Surface finishing evolution

Selective electroplating has been an integral component of aerospace surface finishing for decades. By offering a precise, localised plating process, technicians can enhance components directly on the aircraft. Unlike conventional plating methods, which involve immersing entire parts into plating solutions, SIFCO ASC allows targeted plating on specific areas without disassembly. This selective approach minimises material waste, reduces processing time, and preserves the integrity of the components.

One of the main advantages of the ‘SIFCO Process’ is its portability, which enables our team of expert technicians to deliver services directly to our customers’ sites in the field. Brush plating can occur in hangars on grounded aircraft without disassembling parts and shipping them out. We can also travel to military bases to do the necessary work within the defence sector, providing convenient and efficient plating solutions.

The recent accreditations gives us a greater advantage in supporting the aerospace industry with selective electroplating applications. Certified FAA-approved repairers can deposit plating materials precisely only where needed, ensuring optimal coverage and minimal material waste. Using the SIFCO Process offers several benefits for aerospace components. The corrosion-resistant and conductive properties of selective electroplating extend the service life of critical aerospace components, improving reliability and safety.

There is no longer a need for complete component replacement; SIFCO ASC plating offers a cost-effective alternative for repairing and refurbishing aerospace parts. Additionally, SIFCO ASC's selective plating process reduces chemical usage and waste generation compared to traditional plating methods, aligning with the aerospace industry's sustainability goals.

Elevating excellence

The aerospace industry is poised for further innovation and advancement in surface finishing technologies. SIFCO ASC continues to invest in research and development, exploring novel materials, processes, and applications to address evolving industry needs.

Emerging trends such as additive manufacturing and advanced materials present new opportunities for enhancing aerospace surface properties. By integrating SIFCO ASC's selective plating expertise with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, engineers can unlock unprecedented levels of performance, efficiency, and sustainability in aerospace systems.

In aerospace engineering, surface finishing technologies are critical in enhancing component performance, reliability and longevity. The SIFCO ASC plating process represents a paradigm shift in selective electroplating, offering precision, versatility, and environmental sustainability unmatched by traditional methods. With our recent FAA approval, SIFCO ASC reaffirms its position as a trusted partner in the aerospace industry, setting new standards for quality, reliability, and innovation. As aerospace manufacturers and operators embrace advanced surface finishing solutions, the journey towards safer, more efficient, and sustainable aviation reaches new heights, propelled by the relentless pursuit of excellence and ingenuity.

www.sifcoasc.com