Today's Industrial Products and Solutions February 2019 | Page 20
Beckwood and KOMT Deliver Automated Press for Spirit
AeroSystems Joule Form™ Manufacturing Process
Beckwood Press Company, a leading manufacturer of custom
hydraulic presses, and Kansas Oklahoma Machine Tools
(KOMT), a prominent machinery distributor throughout the
Midwest, recently delivered the first ever press with auto-
mated die change to Spirit AeroSystems for use in Spirit’s
Joule Form™ manufacturing process. Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for
both commercial and defense customers. Headquartered in
Wichita, Kan., Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France
and Malaysia. The company’s core products include fuselag-
es, pylons, nacelles, and wing components for the world’s
premier aircraft.
The Joule Form™ process is a proprietary method developed
by Spirit for shaping metal parts at elevated temperatures
in the fabrication of aerospace components. Using the
automated press system from Beckwood, Spirit will be able
to efficiently form lightweight titanium parts by directing
energy only where it is needed, ultimately decreasing ma-
chined-part costs. About KOMT
“This is an emerging manufacturing improvement for shap-
ing metallic plate products that can replace more expensive
techniques, such as die forgings and extrusions,” said Kevin
Matthies, Spirit’s senior vice president, Global Fabrication.
“Implementing this new technology will allow advanced
production for parts such as those for propulsion systems.
No one else in the industry has a comparable high-tech and
cost-saving solution for this application.”
“Beckwood is continually on the forefront of new manufac-
turing technologies because R&D is at the heart of every
press we build,” said Beckwood president Jeffrey Debus.
“This exclusive system will revolutionize Spirit’s titanium
forming operations around the globe.”
18 TIPS Magazine • February ‘19
KOMT distributes and supports a broad range of advanced
technology machine tools throughout the Midwest. Serving
Kansas, Oklahoma, and the western half of Missouri, their
highly experienced team of sales engineers and support
technicians provide clients with an uncompromising level of
service – both before and after the sale. With over 40 prod-
uct lines represented, KOMT offers a breadth of manufac-
turing solutions unparalleled in the market, including some
of the most unique and customized tooling products in the
world. Learn more at komt.com.
About Beckwood Press Company
Beckwood Press Company is a leading manufacturer of cus-
tom hydraulic presses and automation equipment located in
St. Louis, MO - USA. Their industrial solutions support nearly
every industry and application including: aerospace forming,
compression molding, Hot Forming / SPF, sheet hydroform-
ing, stretch forming, and stamping. Stay up to date with the
latest news from Beckwood at beckwoodpress.com/news.