Chromalloy honored by American

Chromalloy Nevada in Carson City employs 450 and has been in operation in Nevada since 1991.

The company contributes to numerous community organizations and was instrumental in developing the Machinist Apprentice Program of Northern Nevada.

In April it received Platinum status under American Airlines "Supplier Excellence 2000" process.

But what do they do out there on Arrowhead Drive? Chromalloy performs high-temperature coating of jet aircraft engine vanes and blades for customers worldwide.

Its quest to achieve Platinum status with American Airlines began more than three years ago, when the airline invited Chromalloy to be part of its Supplier Excellence 2000 process.

Chromalloy was assessed for its implementation of Total Quality practices and its commitment to continuous improvement based on world-class quality systems and practices.

Only 25 of American Airlines' suppliers have reached this benchmark.

Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp., parent firm of the Carson City facility and itself a unit of New York-based Sequa Corp., is a pioneer in its industry.

In 1951 the company developed its high-temperature diffusion coating to provide oxidation protection on jet aircraft nozzle guide vanes.

From the first generation of commercial airliners to today's supersonic military aircraft, Chromalloy has provided some of the most advanced coating technologies in the industry.

Over the years the company has developed Federal Aviation Adminstration approved processes for repair of dozens of vanes and blades.

Through Chromalloy's worldwide locations the company offers repair solutions for almost every type of turbine engine components.

Put simply, Chromalloy Nevada keeps airlines in the air by restoring the moving parts of aircraft engines.

Because airplanes are expensive machines, turnaround times and quality control are the most important factors in the business.

Put technically, the services Chromalloy provides for airlines include acid strip, alkaline cleaning, abrasive blasting, vapor degreasing, fluoride-ion cleaning, steel shot peening, glass bead peening, thermal spraying and air plasma spraying.

The company prides itself on innovation, so in-house research metallurgists work in laboratories conducting nondestructive testing with radiographic inspection, ultrasonic inspection, fluorescent penetrant inspection, scanning electron microscopes, atomic absorption analysis, and computerized airflow testing.

In keeping with the e-business innovations, Chromalloy offers complete inventory management service and electronic data exchange via the Internet.

On July 19, John MacLean, vice president of corporate purchasing from American Airlines, formally recognized the employees of Chromalloy Nevada with the presentation of the Platinum trophy to Frank Goodwater senior vice president and general manager of Chromalloy Nevada.

D.

Martin Weinstein, chairman and CEO of Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp., and Chris Richardson, president for repair operations of Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp., were honored guests.

June-Ann Jaeke, vice president of human resources, said that because most of the company's business comes from air carriers like American Airlines, there has been a slowdown since Sept.

11.

But Norman E.

Alexander, Sequa's chairman and chief executive officer, has told shareholders that the jet-component repair business should increase as air traffic recovers.