Ascent Aerospace commemorates Gemcor’s 80th anniversary

Ascent Aerospace has announced that it officially celebrated Gemcor’s 80th anniversary at the SAE 2017 Aerotech Exhibition & Congress held in Fort Worth. Gemcor joined Ascent’s assembly line integration portfolio in 2016.

Ascent’s CEO, Michael Mahfet stated: “On behalf of everyone at Ascent, I want to congratulate our Gemcor colleagues on 80 years of aerospace excellence.”

Founded in 1937 by Thomas Speller Sr. as The General Engineering Company, Gemcor was the first company to automate fastening of aircraft parts and assemblies. Speller’s innovation had significant benefits beyond critical improvements in production speed. Automated fastening improved worker welfare, increased the quality and safety of aircraft, and in later years, led to reductions in fuel consumption. Today, Gemcor remains a global leader in developing and manufacturing automated fastening systems for aircraft.

Considered “the backbone of Boeing wing production for more than 30 years”, Gemcor’s automated fastening systems were employed on the 727, 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777. Other notable programmes across Gemcor’s history include the Space Shuttle, the Humvee and the C17 transport.