Adcole

Last updated

Adcole Corporation
TypePrivate
Industry Aerospace
Founded1957
FounderAddison D. Cole
Headquarters,
Number of locations
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsOptical-mechanical measuring technology
Increase2.svg US$30 million (2011)
Website Official Website

Adcole Corporation is a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of precision testing and measuring instruments. Addison D. Cole founded the company in 1957. [1] Adcole's core clients come from the aerospace and automotive industries. The company is a subcontractor for the NASA and satellite manufacturers. [2] Sun angle sensors designed by Adcole have flown on numerous space exploration missions, including Mars Pathfinder and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter . [3] Automobile and truck engine makers as well as agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers utilize measuring machines and tools from Adcole as well. [4] The company reported net sales of more than US$30 million in fiscal year 2011. [5]

Contents

History

During World War II, Cole trained the Royal Air Force on the use of radar. He was also program manager of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's airborne radar unit. Following the war, he helped launch the Laboratory for Electronics, a company that went public in 1957. [4]

An engineer by trade, Cole saw the opportunities represented by the Space Race. He invented a sun angle sensor that helped rockets and satellites maintain their orientation in space. Cole's invention, which space agencies use even today, provided the impetus behind the launch of Adcole in 1957. [6]

In June 2020, the company sold the Aerospace division which was merged with Deep Space Systems to form Redwire. [7] [8]

Expansion

A custom-designed facility for manufacturing, assembly and testing of gauges and other equipment was constructed in Marlborough, Massachusetts in 1983. Within five years, the company expanded the building to make room for 200 employees. [4] A second plant in Pompano Beach, Florida produces high-precision spindles and other components used in Adcole gauges. [2]

In recent years, Adcole has seen impressive sales growth in China and the Far East. The burgeoning auto and consumer markets in developing nations such as Thailand, Vietnam and India has buoyed the company’s already strong position in the market. In 2011, Adcole’s net income topped the $30 million mark, and the company had approximately 120 employees on the payroll. The company has wholly owned offices in Recklinghausen, Germany (1977), Tokyo, Japan (1986), and Shanghai, China (2004). [5]

Leadership

Addison D. Cole held the position of company CEO and Chairman of the board since its founding in 1957, until 2014. In 2014, Adcole was acquired by Artemis Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm. [9]

Addison Cole retired shortly afterward and died at his home on 19 January 2018. He was 98. [10]

Products

Automotive

The majority of engine manufacturers, large and small, employ Adcole measuring devices machines at some stage of the production process. Sophisticated gauges ensure that camshafts and crankshafts are within allowable tolerances for size and shape. The level of precision required in engine manufacturing is rigorous; Adcole gauges are reportedly accurate to within 10 12 millionths of an inch (0.25 µm). Precisely engineered engine parts ensure quiet and reliable operation. [11]

Adcole has several models of camshaft and crankshaft gauges currently on the market. The Model 1300 crankshaft gauge, released in 2007, is designed to provide fast and accurate readings within a production environment. Model 1300 has an automatic loading feature and can measure parts for roundness, size, timing angle and stroke. The unit can process 60 parts per hour. [12]

The Model 1310 is also designed with the factory floor in mind: the unit is capable of 200 measurements per hour. The Model 1310 takes essential measurements of camshafts, integral components of internal combustion engines. [11]

Adcole provides camshaft and crankshaft inspection gages for hundreds companies within the automotive supply chain, including: [4]

Government contracts

Adcole technology has been an integral part of crewed and uncrewed spaceflight since the company's inception. The company's sun angle sensors are used on satellites to control the orientation of the vehicle. For most communications and reconnaissance satellites, a proper orientation is essential for nominal functioning. [13] According to Vice President Tom MacDonald, every orbiting GPS satellite is equipped with a sun angle sensor from Adcole. [6]

In 2012, Adcole sun sensor assemblies were used during NASA's spacecraft cruise stage to deliver the Curiosity rover to Mars. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kawasaki Heavy Industries</span> Japanese multinational manufacturing company

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) is a Japanese public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, heavy equipment, aerospace and defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Chūō, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It is also active in the production of industrial robots, gas turbines, pumps, boilers and other industrial products. The company is named after its founder, Shōzō Kawasaki. KHI is known as one of the three major heavy industrial manufacturers of Japan, alongside Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI. Prior to the Second World War, KHI was part of the Kobe Kawasaki zaibatsu, which included Kawasaki Steel and Kawasaki Kisen. After the conflict, KHI became part of the DKB Group (keiretsu).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V4 engine</span> Piston engine with four cylinders in "V" configuration

A V4 engine is a four-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tachometer</span> Instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk

A tachometer is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute (RPM) on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliant Techsystems</span> American industrial company

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) was an American aerospace, defense, and sporting goods company with its headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States. The company operated in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and other countries. ATK's revenue in the 2014 fiscal year was about US$4.78 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timing belt (camshaft)</span> Part of an internal combustion engine

In a piston engine, either a timing belt or timing chain or set of timing gears is used to synchronize the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft. This synchronisation ensures that the engine's valves open and close at the correct times in relation to the position of the pistons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Variable valve timing</span> Process of altering the timing of a valve lift event

In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing (VVT) is the process of altering the timing of a valve lift event, and is often used to improve performance, fuel economy or emissions. It is increasingly being used in combination with variable valve lift systems. There are many ways in which this can be achieved, ranging from mechanical devices to electro-hydraulic and camless systems. Increasingly strict emissions regulations are causing many automotive manufacturers to use VVT systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR6 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The VR6 engines, commonly referred to as the “staggered six” is a 6-cylinder engine configuration developed by VW. The name VR6 comes from the combination of German words “Verkürzt” and “Reihenmotor” meaning “shortened inline engine”. It was developed specifically for transverse engine installations and FWD vehicles. The VR6 is a highly compact engine, thanks to the narrower angle of 10.5 to 15-degrees between cylinder banks, as opposed to the traditional V6 angles ranging from 45 to 90-degrees. The compact design is cheaper to manufacture, since only one cylinder head is required for all 6 cylinders, much like a traditional inline-6 engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overhead camshaft engine</span> Valvetrain configuration

An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a type of piston engine in which the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion chamber in the engine block.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inclinometer</span> Instrument used to measure the inclination of a surface relative to local gravity

An inclinometer or clinometer is an instrument used for measuring angles of slope, elevation, or depression of an object with respect to gravity's direction. It is also known as a tilt indicator, tilt sensor, tilt meter, slope alert, slope gauge, gradient meter, gradiometer, level gauge, level meter, declinometer, and pitch & roll indicator. Clinometers measure both inclines and declines using three different units of measure: degrees, percentage points, and topos. The astrolabe is an example of an inclinometer that was used for celestial navigation and location of astronomical objects from ancient times to the Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun sensor</span> Spacecraft instrument that senses the direction to the Sun

A sun sensor is a navigational instrument used by spacecraft to detect the position of the sun. Sun sensors are used for attitude control, solar array pointing, gyro updating, and fail-safe recovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V8 engine</span> Piston engine with eight cylinders in V-configuration

A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxon Group</span>

Maxon Group is a Swiss manufacturer and supplier of high-precision motor systems. The group, including its subsidiaries, offers electric AC motors, DC motors, encoders, gears, motor controllers, and sensors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suomi NPP</span>

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, previously known as the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) and NPP-Bridge, is a weather satellite operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was launched in 2011 and is currently in operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyman-Gordon</span>

Wyman-Gordon is a company that designs and manufactures complex metal components. Founded in 1883 as a manufacturer of crankshafts for looms, it has a long history of making forged metal components, particularly for the aerospace industry. Wyman-Gordon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Precision Castparts Corp., and is based in Houston, Texas. It has thirteen (13) plants in five countries, and employed about 2,500 people as of 2012.

Hamilton Sundstrand was an American globally active corporation that manufactured and supported aerospace and industrial products for worldwide markets. A subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, it was headquartered in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The company was formed from the merger of Hamilton Standard and Sundstrand Corporation in 1999. In 2012, Hamilton Sundstrand was merged with Goodrich Corporation to form UTC Aerospace Systems. In 2018, UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins combined to form Collins Aerospace.

UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) was one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The company was formed in August 2012 when parent United Technologies Corporation merged their existing subsidiary Hamilton Sundstrand with the newly-acquired Goodrich Corporation. In 2018, UTC acquired Rockwell Collins which was merged to form Collins Aerospace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTX Corporation</span> American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate

RTX Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitalization, as well as one of the largest providers of intelligence services. RTX manufactures aircraft engines, avionics, aerostructures, cybersecurity solutions, guided missiles, air defense systems, satellites, and drones. The company is also a large military contractor, getting a significant portion of its revenue from the U.S. government.

Redwire Corporation is an American aerospace manufacturer and space infrastructure technology company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The company was formed on June 1, 2020 by the private equity firm AE Industrial Partners.

References

  1. "Adcole Corporation Founder Featured In Automotive Industries Magazine". prLeap. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 "About Us". Adcole Corporation. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  3. Spear, Anthony J.; et al. (1995). "Low Cost Approach to Mars Pathfinder". Acta Astronautica. 37: 131–139. Bibcode:1995AcAau..37..131S. doi:10.1016/0094-5765(95)00066-9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Case, Lenny (July 2010). "Greener Technologies, Tighter Tolerances" (PDF). Automotive Industries. 189 (2): 72–74. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2012.
  5. 1 2 "OneSource CorpTech Company Profiles: Adcole Corp - Snapshot". LexisNexis. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  6. 1 2 Brown, Matthew L. (13 September 2010). "Keeping Things In Line In Marlborough: Adcole Corp. dominant on Earth, in space". Worcester Business Journal. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  7. https://www.aeroequity.com/redwire/ Redwire
  8. "Made in Space acquired by private equity firm". 23 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  9. "Private equity firm Artemis acquires Adcole Corp. - Adcole Corporation". www.adcole.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018.
  10. "ADDISON D. COLE Obituary (1919 - 2018) Boston Globe". Legacy.com .
  11. 1 2 "Measuring Machines". Adcole Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  12. "Crankshaft Measurement Gauge provides submicron accuracy". ThomasNet News. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  13. "Aerospace Products". Adcole Corporation. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  14. Anselmo, Joseph C. (13 August 2012). "Many Engines of Innovation". Aviation Week & Space Technology. 174 (29): 14.