IBC Advanced Alloys Supplies Beralcast® Parts for
European Space Agency's Automated Transport Vehicle
Ultra-lightweight Beralcast® alloys used for key European space program
WILMINGTON, MA - March 20th, 2012 - IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.(TSX-V: IB OTCQX: IAALF) ("IBC" or the "Company") reports that its proprietary Beralcast® ultra-lightweight aluminum-beryllium advanced castings are being supplied for the European Space Agency's ("ESA") Automated Transfer Vehicle ("ATV"). ESA's third ATV, a transport vehicle for supplies and propellant, is scheduled for launch on March 23, 2012 and is expected to dock with the International Space Station five days later.
IBC's Engineered Materials divisionis the world's only producer of precision aluminum beryllium investment castings known as Beralcast® alloys.The Beralcast® range of alloys and composites has a consistently high stiffness to weight ratio which allows aerospace, automotive and high tech engineers greater design flexibility and more options for significant performance gains. The Beralcast® family of alloys are ideally suited to commercial, electronic and military aerospace applications requiring complex, lightweight high modulus parts.
ACAL BFI France is supplying IBC's Beralcast® parts to Astrium (a division of EADS) for the manufacturing of the ATV space transport vehicle, specifically brackets made with Beralcast® 363 being used to hold the thrusters in the front attitude control system of the ATV. Marie-Joëlle Poret of ACAL BFI France said "We would like to thank IBC for its support and for providing all remaining high quality bracket castings for this key program".
Ray White, President of IBC Engineered Materials, reports that, "the brackets are thruster mounts for the front attitude control system, and are perfect examples of where Beralcast® 363 excels. Competitive aluminum-beryllium materials made from powdered metal would be extremely expensive with long manufacturing lead times. Beralcast® was cast to the precise shape required, which saves time and money."
Anthony Dutton, President and CEO of IBC said, "We are proud that Beralcast® products are being utilized for such an innovative aerospace application. IBC's Engineered Materials team provided a top quality product, which can also be adapted for many other market sectors including aerospace, defence, automotive and electronics." Dutton continued, "our Company's ESA work complements our ongoing Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV) project for the US Military and we are looking forward to continuing our work with both of these organizations to develop new high performance aerospace applications using the Beralcast®family of alloys."
