GenCorp awarded NIST funding to develop composite manufacturing process

Business Wire, Nov 18, 1994

FAIRLAWN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1994--GenCorp today was named the recipient of a $2 million award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The award will enable GenCorp to develop a more cost-effective and efficient manufacturing process for producing structural composites for cars and trucks which would meet the automotive industry's needs for the next generation of vehicles.

GenCorp was selected for the award based on its winning proposal submitted in the category of ``Manufacturing Composite Structures,'' one of five areas earmarked for funding by NIST as part of its 1994 Advanced Technology Program (ATP) competition. NIST's vision for the Manufacturing Composite Structures program is to create a high performance composite parts manufacturing infrastructure that would stimulate and support significant U.S. business growth in automotive and various other commercial markets. With an effective manufacturing process, lighter weight composite components could replace heavier steel components in future vehicles offering greater fuel economy, increased safety, and enhanced performance.

GenCorp proposed, and as part of the program will develop, a manufacturing process based on proprietary ``Insert Assembly'' technology that addresses ways to simplify manufacturing, improve cycle time and reduce process costs. Initially, the company will demonstrate the new process by producing composite vibration control suspension components for vehicles that include links, trailing arms and stabilizer bars. Based upon customer interest, other under-the- hood, exterior and interior load-bearing products will follow.

``We are extremely pleased about the award and the opportunity to work with NIST in an effort to promote U.S. industry through the advancement of structural composites technology and manufacturing capability,'' said Dr. Charles (Chuck) Wilkes, GenCorp Director of Corporate Technology. ``Structural composites offer benefits over other materials in areas of design, weight, safety, strength and flexibility. Our primary technical goal in this program will be to develop an improved composite manufacturing process that reduces costs and provides the capability to produce parts at a higher volume, two barriers which currently impede wider use of composite materials,'' he said.

Such a process will also enhance GenCorp's competitive position in the automotive industry by strengthening the company's ability to respond to the needs of its major automotive customers, as well as heavy truck and other industrial manufacturers.

The ATP program award to GenCorp calls for the company to work with NIST under a three-year cooperative research agreement. GenCorp will share investment costs of the project with NIST and is establishing a multi-disciplined Structural Composites Manufacturing Process Team which will perform analysis, build prototypes and develop a pilot manufacturing cell.

The team will rely on support from GenCorp's Corporate Technology Center in Akron, Ohio, the company's Advanced Manufacturing Process Engineering facility in Uniontown, Ohio, and engineers from GenCorp's Vibration Control and Reinforced Plastics divisions.

GenCorp will also work closely with suppliers and a number of subcontractors, including the Ohio State University's Engineering Research Center for Net Shape Manufacturing.

Dr. Wilkes will direct the program. Dr. Jose Castro, Chief Technologist for GenCorp's Structural Composites Manufacturing Center will serve as technical manager for research, design and engineering efforts.

GenCorp's experience in polymer science and engineering dates back nearly 80 years. The company is a leading sheet molding compound (SMC) compression molder of automobile and truck body panels and assemblies and a major injection molder of technically demanding rubber parts. The company manufacturers a full line of composite and molded rubber products.

GenCorp is a technology based company with strong positions in the aerospace/defense, automotive and polymer product markets.

CONTACT: GenCorp, Fairlawn

              Rosemary Younts, Media Relations, 216/869-4494
              Richard A. Nelson, Investor Relations, 216/869-4411