The purchase will expand Sintavia’s non-destructive testing (NDT) exercises in relation to aerospace applications and surface finish conformance testing; however, QC Labs will function as a standalone subsidiary of Sintavia, a leader in AM processes around the world—and the first independent manufacturer to offer end-to-end solutions.
“We have worked with QC Labs for a number of years to develop surface finish inspection metrics that are relevant for the additive manufacturing industry,” said Doug Hedges, Sintavia’s President and Chief Technology Officer. “Today’s announcement is a natural extension of this same process, and we are looking forward to deepening the relationship with QC Labs as we continue to develop acceptable NDT metrics for production AM components.”
QC Labs, both Nadcap and AS9110 certified, was founded in 1965 and has continued as a forerunner in NDT testing for aerospace and defense.
They specialize in the following testing:
- Radiographic (X-ray & Gamma)
- Fluorescent penetrant
- Ultrasonic
- Magnetic particle
- Eddy current inspections
They also hold approvals from companies like:
- Honeywell Aerospace
- Lockheed Martin
- General Electric
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Cessna
- Rolls Royce
“For more than 50 years, QC Labs has been trusted by critical industries, including Aerospace & Defense, to deliver high-quality NDT services,” said John Ahow, QC Labs’ General Manager. “It is very exciting to apply these same services to the developing field of additive manufacturing through Sintavia.”
They have maintained a dynamic presence in the industry also, quickly earning themselves a reputation in metal 3D printing around the world—and not only in aerospace, but also other applications like oil and gas, auto, and energy. In just the past several years, the Sintavia team has been on an accelerated path, cementing their presence in additive manufacturing, including the development of a new process for 3D printing with aluminum alloys.
They have also opened a 55,000-square-foot AM facility in Hollywood, comprised of over $25 million in advanced equipment to include 3D printers, scanners, presses, furnaces, and more. Over 100 jobs have been created in the process of opening the new production site, and they expect this new facility to give Hollywood a more tech-savvy label as well. Sintavia was also the first company to receive approval for 3D printing production parts for Honeywell Aerospace.
What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.
[Source / Images: Business Wire; Sintavia]