DTi’s Spring-Fast® wire protection system to equip new-production Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft
Latest defense-sector application for Spring-Fast is announced at the AIRTEC International Aerospace Supply Fair in Frankfurt, Germany
10/22/2007 – PRESS RELEASE
Device Technologies, Inc.’s Spring-Fast® Wire Protection System
To Equip New-production Eurofighter Typhoon Combat Aircraft
Frankfurt, Germany, October 23, 2007 – Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft built in the program’s second production batch (Tranche 2) will be equipped with a unique system from Device Technologies, Inc. for protection against potentially dangerous wire and cable wear.
The Tranche 2 Typhoons are to carry Device Technologies’ Spring-Fast® grommet edging, which will be installed around structural openings in the aircraft’s fuselage and wings to cushion the contact between electrical wiring and the airframe.
This new-generation protection replaces various older grommets in nylon that crack and fall off, leaving wires exposed to sharp-edged metal surfaces, as well as those made in Polyolefin that require significant assembly time in manufacturing.
Spring-Fast grommet edging is designed to simply snap on and is easier to install, reducing production time per aircraft. Performance tests to high levels of vibration, shock and other ambient conditions support its long term reliability in field conditions. Its simple pressure-fastening concept eliminates the need for adhesives – which minimizes the exposure of production line workers and depot maintenance personnel to hazardous materials and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
The announcement of Spring-Fast’s use on Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoons was made today at the AIRTEC 2007 International Aerospace Supply Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, where Device Technologies is participating as an exhibitor (Stand #A61).
“Spring-Fast is perfectly tailored for high-performance aircraft such as the Typhoon, whose wires and cabling are subjected to significant aerodynamic loads throughout its operational life,” said Device Technologies President Nicolas Petri. “We are in full production of the military-standard M22529/2 Spring-Fast grommet edging for the Tranche 2 Typhoons, with shipments now underway for the production sites in Europe.”
The Spring-Fast grommets are made from spring-loaded stainless steel, which is encapsulated in a protective polymer coating. Spring-Fast quickly snaps into place, using only the pressure applied by the installer’s fingers. The product is delivered in reels, with the material cut to length for the specific protective applications in the aircraft’s fuselage and wings. “The dynamic performance requirements of the Typhoon and the capabilities of Spring-Fast make this a perfect match,” added Petri.
Spring-Fast originally was developed for the electronics industry, and is fitted on storage and server computers, network switching and router systems, medical scanning, X-ray and dialysis systems, automatic teller machines, and other critical equipment.
It is increasingly becoming a standard for the aerospace and defense industries because of the grommet edge’s excellent performance, ease of installation and production cost effectiveness compared to old-style nylon grommets. Spring-Fast is approved for use by the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration civil aviation authority.
Other military aviation applications for Spring-Fast include Boeing’s C-17 airlifter and CH-47 Chinook helicopter; the Northrop Grumman E2C Hawkeye tactical airborne warning and control system; Sikorsky’s CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter, and the Agusta A109 Power helicopter. Uses of Spring-Fast in the civil aircraft sector range from Eclipse Aviation’s Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet to the Mooney Bravo DX piston-powered general aviation aircraft.
The growing aviation, defense and industrial business demand for Spring-Fast has resulted in Device Technologies’ move to a new facility in Southborough, Massachusetts, USA, and a doubling of its Class A production space – along with a proportional increase in the design, manufacturing and development staff.
This ISO 9001-2000 and AS9100B certified company has been providing a full range of specialty wire protection, cable management and fastening solutions for over 20 years, and supplies original equipment manufacturers, distributors and contract manufacturers worldwide. More product information is available at www.devicetec.com
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Press and media contact for Device Technologies, Inc.:
Jeffrey Lenorovitz
The InfoWEST Group
U.S. tel: +1 703 560-6330
U.S. fax: + 1 703 560-6310
U.S. mobile: +1 (703) 615-3646
Int’l GSM : +33 (0) 6 80 85 86 25
e-mail: jleno@infowestgroup.com
