ATK achieved the qualification through the demonstration of process controls, quality assurance and manufacturing capability for composite parts. Certification criteria included qualifying several pieces of equipment critical in the manufacturing process, including material cutters, optical laser templates, composites forming equipment, non-destructive inspection (NDI) equipment and autoclaves. ATK completed the qualification process in seven months and has started preproduction verification testing of Boeing 787 composite frames.
“We are honored to have achieved this rigorous Boeing qualification and gained confidence to build composite frames for the 787-9 and -10 aircraft series,” says Joy de Lisser, vice president and general manager of ATK’s Aerospace Structures division. “Our manufacturing reputation is built on execution excellence, and we look forward to delivering worldclass composite structures to Boeing to meet their growing 787 production rates.”
The certification adds to ATK's list of customer approvals and expands on a history of ATK composite structures on Boeing aerospace products including: Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft, C-17 Globemaster, F-18 Hornet, V-22 Osprey, Boeing 702 and GPS II-F satellites, Delta II and Delta IV launch vehicles and composite fan cases on General Electric's 747-8 GEnx engine. ATK's Clearfield facility already manufactures composite stringers and frames for the Airbus A350 XWB.