Pacific Aerospace & Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PCTH), an international engineering and manufacturing company specializing in technically demanding components and assemblies, reports today that its aluminum and magnesium alloy casting technology developed for the aerospace industry is being applied successfully and directly into the automotive racing industry.
According to Pacific Aerospace & Electronics CEO Don Wright, the transition to the motorsport was natural. “Automotive racing components require the same demanding performance criteria and quality standards as flight hardware for military and commercial aircraft. And, like our aerospace customers, motorsport teams are continuously striving for materials and process improvements, both of which are our area of expertise.”
The external appearance of today’s Formula 1 or Indy Car is so closely determined by tightly controlled technical rules that only the sponsor’s colorful logos help to distinguish one car from another, forcing the designers to turn inward and look at refining systems and materials. Today’s racecars reverse the aerodynamics of an aircraft to create down force using the same lightweight materials and controls as the aerospace industry.
Through the Company’s European Aerospace Group, PA&E supplies unique, intricate thin wall automotive racing parts, including gearboxes, engine sumps, block and heads, and wheel and brake components, for the majority of the top Formula 1 and Indy Car teams. The Company’s Rochester facility produces small ancillary gearbox and engine investment cast parts in high strength aluminum alloy A201 and in the recently announced alloy A20X(TM). The Worcester facility has the largest Sophia process investment casting capability in Europe, and produces larger engine and gearbox castings needing extreme structural integrity. The Sittingbourne sand foundry site specializes in high strength — elevated temperature — long freeze range alloys in magnesium and aluminum that are difficult to cast to x-ray standards.
“In addition to being exciting and profitable work, high-performance motorsport remains a very challenging and exacting industry to work for,” added Mr. Wright. “The teams, the cars and the drivers are hyper-competitive. And like our aerospace customers, they are continuously looking for a manufacturing edge.”
Pacific Aerospace & Electronics, Inc. is an international engineering and manufacturing company specializing in technically demanding component designs and assemblies for global leaders in the aerospace, defense, electronics, medical, energy and transportation industries. The Company utilizes specialized manufacturing techniques, advanced materials science, process engineering and proprietary technologies and processes to its competitive advantage. Pacific Aerospace & Electronics has approximately 1,100 employees worldwide and is organized into three operational groups — U.S. Aerospace, U.S. Electronics and European Aerospace. More information may be obtained by contacting the company directly or by visiting its Web site at www.pcth.com.
