Product Press Release

Custom Lift Platforms Help to Increase Production Rate of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters

(Grimsby, ON  June 9, 2005)   When faced with the challenge of producing up to 22 planes per month for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program, Lockheed Martin selected Handling Specialty, a company well-versed in supplying custom equipment for both the automotive assembly and the aerospace industry. After careful review of the high-rate production challenges faced by Lockheed Martin, Handling Specialty offered the idea of custom vertical assembly stations for the assembly of the F-35 wing.

Vertical assembly stations are typically a four post, screw driven lift design with a platform that has a customized opening. These types of lifts move materials and personnel relative to large, difficult to assemble products. The central opening allows access to the product from all sides and at all elevations. The mechanical nature of this design ensures smooth, synchronized and level motion throughout the range of travel with secure load holding at any elevation. Since this type of lift system is self-contained, it is also suitable for clean working environments.

The vertical assembly stations designed for Lockheed Martin include a variety of additional custom features. In this case, the platform opening is off-center, irregular, and has sliders on both sides with removable guard rails to allow personnel to stay close to the contours of the F-35’s wing at various elevations. As a safety precaution, all sliders must be fully retracted for the platform to move vertically.

Other features unique to the vertical assembly stations for Lockheed Martin are a non-slip, fire resistant plywood deck, a fluorescent lighting system above and below the platform, an NFPA compliant fire suppression system mounted to the underside of the platform, and a series of fixed stairs for personnel to access the assembly station. Utilities accessible from the platform include electrical outlets, quick connect pneumatic ports, computer data ports, and a vacuum system.

A niche supplier of custom lifting equipment, Handling Specialty provides engineered-to-order lift solutions to many prominent companies in the automotive, aerospace, entertainment, metals, and rail industries.  Incorporated in 1963, Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd. is a privately-owned company headquartered in Grimsby, Ontario.  A second manufacturing facility, Handling Specialty Inc., is located in Niagara Falls, NY.  Quality accreditations include ISO 9001:94 and QS-9000: TE Supplement. For more information about Handling Specialty, please visit www.handling.com.

Specifications
Model #5025-150X	15,000 lb. capacity	Mechanical Actuation	636" long, 262" wide	255" vertical travel

- End -

For further information contact:
 
Kelly Chadwick, x244
Marketing Manager
kchadwick@handling.com
1-800-559-8366