Feeling Hot , Hot , Hot
Pryer Aerospace , a leading provider of structural components , assemblies , and kits for the aerospace industry , wanted to overcome barriers to hot forming titanium . For years , they specialized in fabricating complex sheet metal components , many of which are made from titanium , for commercial , corporate , and military aircraft .
When a major customer approached Pryer and made hot-formed parts conditional to winning a large contract , they knew they needed to act fast . “ We did every other type of metal forming for aerospace , but hot forming was the missing piece of our overall capability ,” says Scott Pryer , former president of Pryer Aerospace .
“ Safety really wasn ’ t an issue and that was a game-changer .”
In 2017 , Pryer contacted Beckwood to learn more about the hot forming process and the machinery required to successfully form titanium parts . He quickly learned that the perceived barriers of entry into the hot forming market weren ’ t as cumbersome as originally thought .
While their first 150-ton hot forming press was being constructed , Pryer and his team visited Beckwood ’ s facility and operated a similar machine . “ By getting to see a hot forming press in person and test it myself , I learned that my earlier perceptions were incorrect ,” added Pryer . “ Safety really wasn ’ t an issue — and that was a game-changer .”
Pryer wore an overabundance of safety equipment on day one and quickly discovered that the press ’ safety features and overall usability provided much of the protection his team required . By the end of day two , he chose to work with just gloves , safety glasses , a clear face shield , and a long-sleeved shirt , finding that additional safety gear was prohibitive and unnecessary .
During his visit , Pryer also learned that his facility was already equipped to run and maintain a hot forming press , and he wasn ’ t required to obtain any special approvals to bid on hot forming projects with OEMs or Tier 2 aerospace suppliers .
“ I expected to find a surprise complication that would justify our fears , but it never happened . Instead , I found that our company already had a point of reference , so the hurdles were pretty low .”