AIT wins Northrop Grumman full turnkey integrator contract for tooling move and new tool development at St. Augustine location.

PLANO, TX, - April 7, 2015 – Advanced Integration Technology LP (AIT), a global industrial automation and tooling company delivering fully integrated plant floor systems to the aerospace industry, today announces its contract with Northrop Grumman as the full turnkey integrator responsible for temporarily moving their entire inventory of production line tooling for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program in St. Augustine, Fla.

The tooling move is required for two reasons:  First, the tooling is to go through systematic refurbishing (baseline, blast, paint, move and overhaul) before it is re-commissioned into the new production line. In support of this project, AIT will staff a new 30,000-square-foot building with a paint and tooling crew of approximately 25 technicians over the course of the contract to accomplish this goal.  Second, Northrop Grumman is expanding its plant at that location for the E-2 Hawkeye program, where this tooling will be relocated. In addition to the tools, AIT is also responsible for relocating the entire existing production line. This will comprise the complete factory move, including large CNC machine shop, tool cribs, large ovens, metrology lab and full supporting back shops to the E-2 Hawkeye production processes. AIT will be responsible for the turnkey plan – from the release of the existing process until the process is completed and building new assemblies in the new facility.

Northrop Grumman has also contracted AIT to design, fabricate and install new production line tooling at the facility to complement the company’s commitment to innovation and affordability for its customers. This tooling includes new wing, fuselage, and final assembly platforms and tools.

 “AIT is proud to extend its value chain of integration and tooling experience into services like these to accommodate Northrop Grumman’s important E-2 Hawkeye program and its Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine,” said AIT President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Chalupa. “Northrop Grumman chose AIT for its expertise in not only turnkey solutions but also our ability to design tools and lines meant for flexible, robust production rates.”

AIT’s Aerospace Components and Services division in Grand Prairie, Texas, will spearhead the relocation efforts, while its Chesterfield, Mich., Tooling Division will be responsible for delivering the wing, cockpit and detail tools. Work on the tool relocation and refurbishment began in 2014 with delivery of all tooling and peripherals by the first quarter of 2016.

About AIT

Founded in 1992, AIT is a leading global aerospace services company that designs, manufactures and installs turnkey systems, tooling and equipment for the assembly of aerospace structures. Our business offering also includes manufacturing and repair of aircraft components as well as services support for some of the world’s prominent aerospace companies.