From July 15th through the 18th, Stork Materials Testing & Inspection participated in an audit with representatives from Snecma, a major French manufacturer of engines for commercial and military aircraft, and for space vehicles. The name "Snecma" stands for Société Nationale d'Étude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation (in English, "National Company for the Design and Construction of Aviation Engines"). The company provides engines for Boeing, Airbus, Douglas, and other companies, as well as miliitary and aerospace organizations. In 2005, Snecma became part of the SAFRAN group.

SMT&I Quality Manager Greg Lobosky said, "We were pleased to hear at the beginning of September that we were approved by Snecma to perform laboratory testing for them. Our team prepared for and underwent a rigorous audit for this approval, which was also based on our Nadcap standing. We are proud to have achieved this and look forward to assisting Snecma suppliers with their quality programs."

The Snecma laboratory approval refers to the following tests performed by Stork Materials Testing & Inspection experts:

• Micrography/Grain size

• Micrography/Inclusion rate

• Macrographic inspection

• Optical Emission Spectrometry

• X-Ray/Radiography

• Atomic Absorption

• Inductively Coupled Plasma

• Hydrogen analysis

• Nitrogen analysis

• Carbon analysis

• Sulphur analysis

• Oxygen analysis

• Hardness/Brinell

• Hardness/Vickers

• Room temperature tensile testing

• Elevated temperature tensile testing

• Test pieces machining

• Creep testing

• Stress rupture (with strain gaging)

• Heat treatment of test pieces

Stork Materials Technology is also pursuing low-cycle fatigue testing approval from Snecma. Future approval for Low Cycle Fatigue testing is expected pending successful completion of Round Robin testing.

Stork Materials Testing & Inspection, a member of the Stork Materials Technology group of companies, provides materials testing and consulting for clients worldwide. Stork SMT&I's staff of engineers and other specialists supports industry on the West Coast and around the world with services ranging from standard materials testing to complex materials analysis and failure investigations.

Stork Materials Technology is a network of independent, accredited laboratories providing testing solutions to industry throughout the U.S. and Europe. Stork engineers, scientists, failure analysts, and product development and qualification experts support businesses with materials selection and engineering, materials testing, performance testing, failure analysis and consulting, nondestructive testing and inspection, calibration, construction materials testing and engineering, polymer and advanced materials testing, dimensional inspection, surface treatment, product qualification and development, and more. For more information, please visit the Stork Materials Technology website at www.storksmt.com.