When the NASA space shuttle enters space it's powered by Verdi-forged components partly.
Viking Metallurgical Corp., a 70-employee plant in Verdi, fabricated a copper-zirconiumalloy part that is used in the shuttle's main engine.
It was a few years ago, says Victor Forsberg, the plant's purchasing manager.And, as he recalls, it was a small part albeit with a big future.
Viking is one of more than 300 companies in 36 states that produce the Shuttle's various components, including parts used in the main engines, external tank, solid rocket boosters and reusable solid rocket motors.
The Shuttle's next flight may occur as early as mid-May.
Viking products have also walked the moon.
The company fabricated the molybdenum rocket nozzles that are assembled into the lunar modules.
But on a day-to-day basis, says Forsberg, the company produces more prosaic though equally esoteric parts.
Its main product line includes critical rotating rings and major structural cases for jet engines with thrust ratings up to 115,000 pounds.
The firm's expertise is the forging of titanium alloys, and nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys.
Viking is owned by Firth Rixson Limited, an organization with 16 plants in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Firth Rixson is a holding of The Carlyle Group.
It wasn't hard for NASA to find Viking.
It's one of just a half-dozen companies of its sort in the US.
And it has been based in Verdi for upwards of 35 years.
