Arcadia Aerospace Industries

The growing prominence of novel composite materials with applications across aerospace design and manufacturing is leading businesses to adopt the use of third-party non-destructive testing (NDT) inspections, and process automation using value-added, customized machinery, ensuring the development of flawless aircraft components.

Arcadia Aerospace Industries (AAI) is at the forefront of helping aerospace manufacturers with its holistic portfolio comprising innovative aerospace and defense technologies with a seasoned team of certified inspectors having deep experience working with different materials and complex structures. Additionally, AAI offers NDT inspection services through its specialized laboratories in Alabama and Pennsylvania, where its team continually strives to maintain “state-of-the-art” solutions with the latest emerging technologies. Together, these core competencies provide strategic value supporting the design and development of composite airframe components for prime and subprime aerospace contractors.

AAI’s engineers design and build automated machinery for the quality assurance of production manufacturing programs. The engineering team continually receives machine improvement feedback from its team of inspectors, which drives improved production processes and better usage of automation equipment. In addition, this feedback enables engineering to precisely tune electronic and control systems, acquiring better quality imaging, identifying issues early on, and minimizing overall downtime. Consistent feedback helps design efficient production automated solutions that adapt to real-world environments.

After understanding short-term or long-term needs, AAI approaches customers with a problem-solving toolkit. When a customer comes in with a quality inspection need, the engineering team performs a detailed analysis, matching the best-suited technology and method. They use these outputs to design machinery that automatically produces the data quality required and meets the manufacturing production rates.

“We create a symbiotic relationship between the machinery and the inspection of aerospace components. This differentiates us from third-party labs or machine builders who often overlook the benefits of having truly aligned processes,” says Jeffrey Phillips, VP of AAI.

Philips notes that the relationship between inspection technicians and engineering is vital to understanding the nuances and limitations of automated equipment.

A leading integrator and automation solution provider in the aerospace and industry sectors (both commercial and military), AAI’s services go beyond in-house production. It currently assists clients in acquiring sustainable solutions depending on their needs, budget, and schedule. For instance, AAI automates any number of technologies that include but are not limited to conventional or phased array ultrasonics, thermographics, digital x-ray, optical analysis, and laser technologies. These technologies are mountable or integrated approaches from other manufacturers to help maintain a client’s workflow. This integrability makes AAI a flexible aerospace services partner that delivers value-added solutions through targeted automation.

Throughout its customer engagements, AAI strives to build long-lasting partnerships via a collaborative approach, where it provides critical recommendations that drive continued partnership and expanding project complexities. Engaging AAI engineers across the machine design, build, installation, and commissioning process as well as continued customer service with system improvements and upgrade processes, is essential in an industry where hours of downtime can impact production significantly.

Highlighting AAI’s leadership in the industry is a recent example with a defense contractor. Looking to start an R&D project, this client needed clarification on the flexibility of their existing machinery and wanted to assess their overall ability to integrate newer emerging technologies. For this project, AAI’s team offered NDT methods and technologies that could be integrated into robots for impactful process automation. This resulted in a capable and flexible machine infused with five NDT technologies, conventional and phased ultrasonic, coordinate measurement, thermography, and air scan.

Manufacturers across aerospace and other industries recognize AAI for its well-rounded team of automation experts dedicated to serving customers with diligence and integrity. Moving forward, AAI aims to continue to add dedicated professionals, building on its experiences and skills to increase their ability to serve and instill noteworthy relationships with aerospace and other industry manufacturers.