News Release
October
18, 2007
Siemens Incorporates Laser Peening Technology
on Steam Turbines
Livermore, CA, Oct. 18 -- Metal Improvement Company
(MIC) announced today that Siemens Power Generation
has begun utilizing MIC’s laser peening technology
to improve the fatigue strength of titanium last row
blades on certain of their advanced steam turbines.
The last row blades extract energy from the steam to
drive electrical generators. Although the laser peening
technology has been utilized for several years to strengthen
critical titanium components in commercial and military
turbine engines, this application represents its first
production use in power generation steam turbines.
The MIC laser peening technology is based on a Neodymium
glass laser technology, which was originally developed
at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The laser
beam, with a peak power output of 1,000 Megawatts, is
pulsed and directed at the surface of metal parts to
be treated. Pressure waves of one million pounds per
square inch are generated at the surface and compress
the metal to leave behind a protective residual compressive
stress layer beneath the surface. This compressive stress
acts to increase the component’s resistance to
failure mechanisms such as fatigue, fretting fatigue
and stress corrosion cracking, which in turn translates
into increased component life and reduced maintenance
costs.
MIC operates laser peening production facilities in
Livermore, CA to service the North American market and
Earby, UK to service the European market. Laser peening
continues to gain momentum as a premier metal surface
treatment for highly stressed components made of steel,
titanium, aluminium and other metals where extended
life or improved reliability is important. MIC also
operates mobile laser peening systems with the capability
to be transferred and set up anywhere in the world to
bring the benefits of laser peening technology to new
applications.
The Power Generation Group (PG) of Siemens AG is one
of the premier companies in the international power
generation sector. In fiscal 2006 Siemens PG had sales
of more than EUR 10 billion and a work force of approximately
36,400 worldwide. For more information about the Power
Generation Group of Siemens AG visit www.powergeneration.siemens.com
Metal Improvement Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, provides precision
metal treatment services that include shot and laser
peening, peen forming, heat treating and coating services.
The company operates 61 metal treatment facilities in
North America and Europe.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW), headquartered
in Roseland, NJ, is a diversified company that designs,
manufactures and overhauls products for motion control
and flow control applications in addition to providing
metal treatment services. For more information about
Curtiss-Wright visit www.curtisswright.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based
on management's beliefs and assumptions for a certain
commercial application of its laser peening technology
and a service contract with an existing customer. Such
statements, including statements relating to Curtiss-Wright
Corporation's expectations for future performance and
opportunities, are not considered historical facts and
are considered forward- looking statements under the
federal securities laws. Such forward- looking statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date hereof. Such risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to: a reduction
in anticipated orders; an economic downturn; changes
in competitive marketplace and/or customer requirements;
a change in US and Chinese government spending; a change
in political relations between the Chinese and US governments,
an inability to perform customer contracts at anticipated
cost levels; and other factors that generally affect
the business of aerospace, defense contracting, marine,
electronics and industrial companies. Please refer to the Company's current SEC filings under the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for further information.
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