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| The End of an Era - Closure of an Aerospace Company |
| 2006-04-12 |
| An Era of a major player in the Aerospace industry and especially the defense industry is coming to an end. Stanley Aviation, which has been in business since 1948 (and well before via Robert (Bob) Stanley during WWII and before) is closing down after nearly almost 60 years in the industry. Eaton a large global manufacturer aquired Stanley Aviation from Cobham PLC(UK) in November of 2005 has reached the decision to transfer manufacturing to low cost manufacturing country or countries. You've probably not heard much about Stanley, which has a rich history in the industry and American Defense, as it was a quiet but important player in the industry. Note this is not like some little plating company or machine house shutting down. For example a few of our projects past and present: Ejection Seats, Bell X craft, Nulcear Range Finding and Computation (before computers), parts on the moon, major components of many aircraft, fuel air and ECS systems for commercial and military, missile seals for sea launch ICBMS, cones and nozzels for sea launch and other ICBMS, F22, F35 (JSF), C17, UAVs, other military planes, etc, etc, etc, etc. Eaton is not to blame for this, there are other issues, however, it is indeed a very sad day for Aviation and especially American Aviation that Stanley is ceasing manufacturing activities. This is the reality now that the American Aerospace Industry and even general manufacturing in America face ... simple math. We cannot compete with $2.50 - $10.00 per / hour shop rates that the Low Cost Countries can deliver. The myth that China, India, Mexico, et al are not quality or mature manufacturers is complete just that, a complete myth. They've recently started to crush ITAR / Export concerns and issues, a major roadblock for any Military transfer to an LCC and quality is no longer a concern. As I've mentioned before, there will be a major shift when an industry / country make nano-manufacturing a reality. If the US is not first, we will face major problems as we already do with traditional manufacturing. We've tried many things, heavy automation, new technologies and methods / processes, new materials, etc but we just can't compete anymore. If you care about our Areospace and Defense Industry (A&D) please urge congress or whatever to really chase nano-tech as that is the next big step ... as it is now, we as an industry have tried / done all the incrementals. Thus a major revolution has come, which is transfer of even important commerical and military manufacturing activites to LCCs. This train has already left the station and there is nothing we (as Americans) can do about it. But what we can do is make sure we book and are on the next train, and hopefully exclusivley on the next train of Nano, before we are left in the dust. Please have a thought for Stanley Aviation, as a major player in the industry and our defense has fallen at last. |
| Posted by:Chaiper Gloluting4218 |