Ascent Aerospace adds 60,000 hours of large, high-speed machining capacity at tooling facility

Ascent Aerospace, a leading provider of precision assembly and tooling solutions, has installed a 40-foot Fidia 5-axis CNC machining center at their Global Tooling Systems (Global) facility. This investment in precision, high-speed machining capacity will allow Ascent to maintain an industry-leading on-time delivery record while meeting increasing demand for large, metallic aerospace tooling, such as assembly jigs and bond tools.

The state-of-the-art Fidia GTF4015 is the largest machining center at Global and one of Fidia’s largest in Michigan. Ascent selected it for the high horse power and its ability to remain accurate at high speeds, a combination which translates to fewer machining hours per tool.

According to Paul Walsh, President and COO of Ascent Tooling Group, “We invested in another large precision 5-axis machine to maintain our position as the premier assembly jig provider in aerospace, especially as the industry shifts towards modular, scalable automation. Cost-effective automation applied directly onto assembly tooling is proving to be a game-changing evolution, and more customers are coming to us for this unique capability.” Walsh notes that this is the ninth spindle added at Ascent facilities in two years, totaling a 50% increase in machining capacity to meet growing demand across their Tooling Group, which also includes Coast Composites and Odyssey Industries.