Mitsubishi purchases second round of Flow waterjets to cut wing skins for
major commercial aircraft composite wing manufacturer
KENT, Wash., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Flow International
Corporation (Nasdaq: FLOW), the world's leading developer and manufacturer
of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) waterjet technology, today announced that
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has awarded the company a second
multi-million dollar contract to supply MHI with Flow's Composite Machining
Center (CMC) waterjet machine tools to cut the carbon fiber wing skins for
a major commercial jet aircraft program.
Flow's CMC waterjet machining system for carbon fiber composite wings
will measure 118 feet long and 21 feet wide. The CMC will be utilized for
cutting the composite wing skins which are part of the composite wing
structure. The CMC system will be built and tested in Jeffersonville, Ind.,
one of Flow's four worldwide manufacturing plants. The UHP pumps that
provide the ultrahigh-pressure water will be made at the Kent, Wash.
headquarters.
"The award of Flow's second CMC commercial wing machining system proves
the effectiveness of Flow's waterjet technology and its ability to create
'state of the art' aircraft parts in a cost-effective manner," said Charley
Brown, CEO of Flow International Corporation.
Traditionally, conventional cutting tools -- handheld diamond or
carbide-tipped routers, bandsaws, cutoff saws and abrasive wheels -- were
used to cut composites. However, due to the composition and fiber
orientation of advanced composites, these traditional cutting tools can
damage the composites either by over heating, or by leaving frayed or
delaminated edges. Frequent delamination and fraying requires costly
rework. In addition, these slow processes allowed parts to be cut only one
at a time.
Waterjets eliminate cutting problems associated with advanced aerospace
composites, because abrasive waterjets cut by erosive action rather than
friction and shearing. To cut carbon composite aircraft parts, a thin
stream of water moving at three times the speed of sound is emitted from a
tiny, jeweled orifice in the tool head of Flow's machine. The one
gallon-per-minute water flow draws in a separate stream of fine garnet
particles that slice into the surface being cut. They produce exceptional
edge quality -- free of frayed or delaminated areas, which minimizes costly
secondary finishing. The waterjets' low operating temperature doesn't
affect the material being cut. Furthermore, because waterjets exert far
less lateral force on the material than conventional machines, tooling and
fixturing requirements are simpler and less expensive.
Flow waterjets have been used to increase productivity at leading
aerospace companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Rockwell, Teledyne Ryan,
General Dynamics, Lockheed, Raytheon, Bell Helicopter, Northrop and other
firms that provide composite machining services.
About Flow International
Flow International Corporation is the world's leading developer and
manufacturer of ultrahigh-pressure waterjet cutting technology to
industries including automotive, aerospace, job shop, surface preparation,
and more. For more information, visit http://www.flowcorp.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to
future events or future financial performance that involve risks and
uncertainties. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate,"
variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements but their absence does not mean that the statement is not
forward-looking. These statements are only predictions and actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements based on
a number of risk factors, including those set forth in the April 30, 2007,
Flow International Corporation Form 10-K Report filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this
announcement.
Contact:
Flow Investor Relations
Geoffrey Buscher
253-813-3286
investors@flowcorp.com
SOURCE Flow International Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.flowcorp.com
CONTACT:
Geoffrey Buscher of Flow Investor Relations,
+1-253-813-3286, investors@flowcorp.com
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