TEC = Experience

History

Thermal Equipment Corporation was incorporated in 1970 as an outgrowth of Fuel Engineering Corporation, the pioneer autoclave manufacturer in the United States since the 1950’s. In its present state, TEC is the world’s largest manufacturer of composite bonding Autoclaves for the aerospace and defense industries.

TEC has built up to 70% of all aerospace autoclaves purchased in the US, and manufactures Pressure/Vacuum Vessels, Hydraulic Presses, Ovens, Hydroclaves, and Computer Process Equipment.

Major milestones of industry leadership include:

• TEC has built more than 90% of ALL autoclaves used to manufacture the F16 fighter jets at Lockheed Fort Worth
• TEC has built more than 90% of ALL autoclaves used by Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems
• TEC has built more than 90% of ALL autoclaves used by Northrop Grumman
• TEC has built or rebuilt more than 80% of ALL autoclaves used by Boeing North American (formerly Rockwell International)
• TEC has built or rebuilt more than 80% of ALL autoclaves used by Rohr Industries
• TEC has built or rebuilt more than 80% of ALL autoclaves used by Vought
• TEC has built more autoclaves over 14 feet in diameter than all other manufacturers combined
• TEC built and installed the first computer controlled autoclaves
• TEC has put the ACCS computer control system on more autoclaves and presses than all other autoclave/press computer systems combined

Quality

TEC is dedicated to producing the highest quality machinery for the production of composite parts at a reasonable cost to the customer. The apparent contradiction between high quality and reasonable cost is made possible because TEC is the only composite process system manufacturer in the US to vertically integrate all facets of production within the one company.

TEC's Process Control Specialists design for fabrication or modification of custom equipment to meet customer needs. TEC then fabricates the equipment and electrical controls, assembles and tests subsystems, ships components, performs field work and completes the system turnkey with TEC personnel wherever practical. In this way TEC maintains a high degree of management control of quality and schedule, unavailable to competitors who utilize many subcontractors. This approach gives TEC's customer a true single point of responsibility for the entire project.

TEC's high quality is also the result of innovation in the technology of autoclaves and presses. In working with customers to overcome system design constraints, TEC has developed many design concepts that have since become industry standards.

TEC's continuing innovations give our customers increased performance and reliability at a reasonable cost. This allows TEC to develop new custom designs economically.

A Partial List of Our Major Clients: