News Details
CURTISS-WRIGHT LASER PEENING TECHNOLOGY UTILIZED BY SIEMENS POWER GENERATION
October 11, 2007
Siemens Incorporates Laser Peening Technology on Steam Turbines
ROSELAND, N.J., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) announced today that Siemens Power Generation has begun utilizing its laser peening technology to improve the fatigue strength of titanium last row blades on certain of their advanced steam turbines. The last row blades extract energy from the steam to drive electrical generators. Although laser peening technology has been utilized for several years to strengthen critical titanium components in commercial and military turbine engines, this application represents its first production use in power generation steam turbines.
"Curtiss-Wright's state-of-the-art laser peening technology enables Siemens to extend the life of a critical component in its advanced steam turbine design, and thus improve the overall system reliability," said Martin R. Benante, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "By enhancing the durability and reliability of critical components, our unique technology has already provided unsurpassed economic benefits on jet engines and we anticipate additional demand for this advanced product for aerospace structures, nuclear power generation, medical implants, oil and gas drilling and performance racing applications."
Curtiss-Wright's laser peening technology is based on a Neodymium glass laser technology, which was originally developed by Curtiss-Wright in conjunction with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The laser beam with a peak power output of 1000 Megawatts is pulsed and directed at the surface of metal parts to be treated. One million pounds per square inch pressure waves are generated at the surface that compress the metal and leave behind a protective residual compressive stress layer beneath the surface. This compressive stress acts to increase the component's resistance to failure mechanisms such as fatigue, fretting fatigue and stress corrosion cracking, which in turn translates into increased component life and reduced maintenance costs.
Curtiss-Wright provides this service through its Metal Treatment segment which has production facilities in Livermore, CA and Earby, UK. Laser peening continues to gain momentum as a premier metal surface treatment for highly stressed components of steel, titanium, aluminum and other metals, where extended life or improved durability is important. Curtiss-Wright's Metal Treatment segment also operates mobile laser peening systems that can be transferred and set up anywhere in the world to bring the benefits of the laser peening technology to field applications.
ABOUT CURTISS-WRIGHT
Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a diversified company headquartered in Roseland, N.J. The company designs, manufactures and overhauls products for motion control and flow control applications, and provides a variety of metal treatment services. The firm employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide. More information on Curtiss-Wright can be found at curtisswright2014.q4web.com.
ABOUT OUR METAL TREATMENT SEGMENT
Curtiss-Wright's Metal Treatment segment provides precision metal finishing services, including shot peening, shot peen forming, laser peening, heat treating, and specialty coatings,. Its customer base includes the commercial aerospace, automotive, power generation and processing industries. The Company now operates 64 metal treatment facilities in North America and Europe. More information on Curtiss-Wright's Metal Treatment segment can be found on the Internet at www.metalimprovement.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management's beliefs and assumptions for a certain commercial application of its laser peening technology and a service contract with an existing customer. Such statements, including statements relating to Curtiss-Wright Corporation's expectations for future performance and opportunities, are not considered historical facts and are considered forward- looking statements under the federal securities laws. Such forward- looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: a reduction in anticipated orders; an economic downturn; changes in competitive marketplace and/or customer requirements; a change in US and Chinese government spending; a change in political relations between the Chinese and US governments, an inability to perform customer contracts at anticipated cost levels; and other factors that generally affect the business of aerospace, defense contracting, marine, electronics and industrial companies. Please refer to the Company's current SEC filings under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for further information.
SOURCE Curtiss-Wright Corporation
CONTACT:
Alexandra M. Deignan
+1-973-597-4734
for Curtiss-Wright Corporation