U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal Visits Consolidated Industries

August 12, 2019. Cheshire, CT.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today toured Consolidated Industries, Inc. in Cheshire, Connecticut, a designer and manufacturer of critical aerospace forgings for landing gears, jet engines, helicopter rotors, airframes, and wheels. Following his tour, the Senator formally addressed and then individually greeted Consolidated Industries’ employees. Senator Blumenthal acknowledged the key role of Consolidated Industries and other Connecticut companies in supporting the nation’s defense efforts. “By supplying the critical components for our country’s defense, the employees of companies like Consolidated Industries are no less important as our valued men and women in uniform,” Senator Blumenthal stated. Answering a question concerning the defense budget, he pointed out that the defense budget remained robust, and defense priorities within the budget attracted strong bi-partisan support. He noted “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I can see that there is continued support by my Democratic and Republican colleagues for helicopter, jet fighter, and submarine programs.”

Read full press release here.

Consolidated Inc. at WESTEC 2017 Expo in Los Angeles, CA

July 11, 2017. Cheshire, Connecticut.

WESTEC: Key decision makers. Exciting technology. The perfect place to do business. We’ll be at WESTEC 2017 Metalworking & Manufacturing Exposition on September 12-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Be sure to stop by Booth #950 to learn about our new state-of-the-art forging capabilities.

Get the technology solutions you need with the most machining, metrology, design, waterjet, software, digital, 3D printing and engineering expertise than you can find anywhere!

• Experience hands-on interaction with the newest technologies while meeting face-to-face.
• Compare technology side-by-side so you can easily make educated purchasing decisions.
• Learn more in a couple of days than you typically do in a year at dozens of complimentary educational events — including:
• Keynote addresses
• Technology demonstrations
• Business of Manufacturing sessions
• Machining Academy
• Smart Manufacturing Hub — as well as at our paid Smart Manufacturing Seminar Series.
• And much more!

In manufacturing, you can’t afford to stand still. Get the tools you need to rev up your business at WESTEC, where the West Coast’s brightest manufacturing minds come together to explore, evaluate, connect and do business. Among the United States’ fastest-growing manufacturing regions, the West Coast is a hotbed of opportunity for companies with new products and innovative ideas. Consider this: California has almost 36,000 manufacturing firms that employ nearly 1.3 million people, and the state exported almost $144 billion in manufactured goods in 2015.1 It’s also a leader in several key industries, including aerospace, medical, industrial machinery and consumer goods.

For a complementary Event Pass for free show admission, please contact Marc Fortin at mfortin@consolindustries.com

For more information on the show, please visit http://www.westeconline.com/

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Aircraft Carrier Coalition Urges Congress to Provide Uninterrupted Aircraft Carrier Funding

March 21, 2016. Washington, DC.

by Steve Bassermann

More than 200 suppliers from across the nation traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to meet with their Members of Congress and urged them to support regular, predictable and sustainable funding for the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier construction and maintenance program.

The suppliers are members of the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC), which represents the jobs and businesses in 46 states that contribute parts, services and support for the construction and maintenance of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

These businesses hire and train skilled craftsmen, make investments in capital, technology and inventory, and build detailed business plans based on long-range carrier construction and maintenance schedules.

“Each year the supply chain needs to know if funding is coming so we can prepare inventory, allocate resources and hire and train skilled workers – decisions that must occur well in advance of the start of work,” said Rick Giannini, ACIBC chairman and president & CEO of Milwaukee Valve Company in New Berlin, Wisconsin. “Building new carriers every five years and undertaking maintenance on a regular schedule keeps the industrial base viable and strong. When there is uncertainty in funding for the aircraft carrier program it provides no clear direction on how suppliers can or should plan for the future.”

To kick off the advocacy campaign, earlier this month ACIBC leadership sent a letter to congressional leadership urging Congress to support the advanced purchase of materials needed for the construction of the next two U.S. Navy Ford-class aircraft carriers, Enterprise (CVN 80) and theyet-to-be-named CVN 81. Buying materials in advance for the construction of the next two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers will save taxpayers as much as $500 million dollars over the course of their construction and will provide companies greater predictability and stability.

At Wednesday’s night dinner, U.S. Representative Peter Visclosky (D-IN-01), Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke to the Coalition about the supply chain’s role as job creators and as an important part of the national defense industrial base.

Congressman Visclosky told the audience, “We need a strong industrial base. A strong industrial base leads to a strong defense. We need a strong industrial base that can operate our ships yards, build our nuclear engines, create unsurpassable weapons systems, and manufacture our steel.”

Congresswoman Kaptur, whose district has businesses that contribute substantially to the carrier program, stated, “In an uncertain world, we must develop a defense budget that meets the needs of our troops, improves our national security and helps to maintain a sustainable and reliable defense industrial base. In order for the Navy to be ‘where it matters, when it matters’ that starts with a fleet of at least 11 aircraft carriers and a robust supply chain to maintain it.”

ACIBC members met with their Members of Congress to ask for predictable and sustainable funding to the carrier program including:

• Support the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for $1,292 million for the second ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), and $1,371 million in Advance Procurement funding for the third ship in the class, Enterprise (CVN 80).
• Support the batch buy of materials for Enterprise (CVN 80) and CVN 81. Batch buying materials in 2017 could save taxpayers nearly $400 - $500 million over the course of construction. Support $263 million in first year Advance Procurement funding for CVN 81 to ensure materials are purchased at the least expensive price possible.
• Request $20 million additional Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding be added to Enterprise’s (CVN 80) Total Ship Integration project to reduce future carrier acquisition cost through expanded Design for Affordability efforts.
• Support the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for $1,743 million for the mid-lifemodernization of USS George Washington (CVN 73) and $249 million in Advance Procurement funding for the mid-life modernization of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), a process also known as refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). Also support providing the U.S. Navy authorization for the RCOH for each of the remaining ships of the Nimitz-class and authorization to enter into incrementally funded RCOH contracts for that work.
• Support the U.S. Navy in maintaining a fleet of at least eleven aircraft carriers.

Learn more about ACIBC and aircraft carriers, please visit: www.ACIBC.org

Consolidated is now a member of the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition

March 15, 2016. Cheshire, Connecticut.

The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC) represents businesses that supply parts, equipment and services for the construction and maintenance of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. Established in 2004, ACIBC seeks to preserve the strength of the aircraft carrier force and promote the value of the aircraft carrier industrial base as a vital part of the nation's overall defense structure.

ACIBC businesses provide all the valves, wiring, steel, motors, and thousands of other parts that make these ships the most technologically advanced ships in the world.

In total, more than 1,110 small, mid-sized and large businesses from 46 states, and 279 congressional districts, contribute parts, services and support to the construction and maintenance of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. 

New Machinery at Consolidated Industries, Inc.

November 20, 2015. Cheshire, Connecticut.

Our previous forging equipment was installed in the late 1940’s. These steam hammers have been refurbished several times but are now technologically obsolete. We have made huge capital investments in new upgraded equipment and workspace to stay ahead of the industry curve and serve our customers needs most effectively.

We are doing the following:

• Replace existing steam hammers with “state of the art” CNC hydraulic hammer equipment
• Replace Inefficient “Box” billet heating furnaces with high efficiency CNC Rotary furnaces.
• Replace existing single stroke trim presses with new CNC equipment.
• Upgrade and insulate our existing hammer forging facility to additionally reduce sound emissions emanating from our site enabling increased number of shifts (more capacity).

CH-53K Helicopter Achieves First Flight

October 27, 2015. West Palm Beach, Florida.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), today announced the successful first flight of the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter prototype, known as Engineering Development Model-1 (EDM-1). The 30-minute flight signals the beginning of a 2,000-hour flight test program using four test aircraft.

“EDM-1’s first flight signifies another major milestone for the CH-53K helicopter program,” said Mike Torok, Sikorsky’s CH-53K Program Vice President. “Having independently tested the aircraft’s many components and subsystems, including integrated system level testing on the Ground Test Vehicle, we are now moving on to begin full aircraft system qualification via the flight test program.”

Sikorsky delivered the EDM-1 into the test program at the company’s West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Development Flight Center in late 2014. During its 30 minute maiden flight the EDM-1 aircraft performed hover, sideward, rearward and forward flight control inputs while in ground effect hover up to 30 feet above the ground. As the flight test program proceeds, the EDM-1 will be joined by an additional 3 EDM aircraft to fully expand the King Stallion’s flight envelope over the course of the three-year flight test program.

“We have entered a much anticipated phase in this developmental program,” said Col. Hank Vanderborght, U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager for Heavy Lift Helicopters. “We have experienced significant learning at the system and sub-system levels, which continues to build our confidence in the capabilities of the 53K. With first flight behind us, we look forward to execution of the development and operational testing and the deployment of this incredible heavy lift capability to our warfighters.”

Sikorsky, with support of others in the industry, is developing the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps. The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter will maintain similar physical dimensions as its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER STALLION™ helicopter, but will nearly triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under “high hot” ambient conditions. Features of the CH-53K helicopter include a modern glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth-generation rotor blades with anhedral tips; a low-maintenance elastomeric rotor head; upgraded engines; a locking, United States Air Force pallet compatible cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and improved reliability, maintainability and supportability.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Program of Record remains at 200 CH-53K aircraft with a Initial Operational Capability in 2019. Eventual production quantities would be determined year-by-year over the life of the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense acquisition priorities. The Marine Corps intends to stand up eight active duty squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron to support operational requirements.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Conn., provides high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning opportunities for development, production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices, budget plans, availability of funding and in the type and number of aircraft required; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.