The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Washington, reports that, for the first time in half a century, its one million pounds-force deadweight machine – the largest in the world – is being disassembled for cleaning, restoration, and recalibration.

Solar Atmospheres of Fontana, Calif., announces that it has attained approved-supplier status for Safran/Snecma.

3D Systems, Rock Hill, S.C., has been awarded two research contracts worth over $1 million to develop advanced aerospace and defense 3D printing manufacturing capabilities on a commercial scale.

Harper International Corp., Buffalo, N.Y., offers advanced carbon fiber oxidation oven technology to complement its furnaces for carbon fiber processing.

A robot named ISAAC, which features a versatile spinning head and a robust, acrobatic arm, will help NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., create and test new composite structures faster, less expensively, and with more room for experimentation than ever before.

Hi-Tek Manufacturing, Mason, Ohio, which serves the gas turbine industry, announces that it has received Nadcap accreditation for heat treating and for brazing, hardness testing for heat treating, and pyrometry capabilities.

Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, Hermitage, Pa., announces that it vacuum heat-treated the titanium manifold in the Launch Abort System of the NASA Orion spacecraft launched in December.

Vac Aero, Burlington, Ontario, has sold a VAH4848 HV-6 high-pressure quench vacuum furnace to a manufacturer and integrator of high performance aerospace systems and components.

Praxair Surface Technologies, Danbury, Conn., introduces a new line of chromium (VI)-free ceramic aluminum coatings for the aerospace and power-generation industries.

Alcoa, Pittsburgh, has agreed to acquire privately held TITAL, a German producer of titanium and aluminum investment castings for aircraft engines and airframes.

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA), Hermitage, Pa., announces that it has attained an approved supplier status for Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Alcoa, Pittsburgh, reports that Alcoa Power and Propulsion, Whitehall, Mich., will invest $16.7 million in a 7700 sq. ft. building expansion to double coating capacity at its Thermatech Coatings plant in Whitehall.

Alcoa, Pittsburgh, has agreed to acquire privately held TITAL, a German producer of titanium and aluminum investment castings for aircraft engines and airframes.

Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that three separate companies recently purchased different Ipsen furnace models, all of which are for the aerospace industry.

Bodycote, U.K., announces the signing of an eight-year agreement with Messier-Bugatti-Dowty (Safran Group), a maker of aircraft landing and braking systems.