Kaydon, Ducommun receive supplier honors

WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- Key suppliers of components for U.S. military helicopters have been honored for their performance by aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Sikorsky.

Kaydon Bearings, which has supplied has supplied bearings for Apache helicopters since 1983, was given the Gold Level award by Boeing for its production performance from Oct. 1, 2012 through last September.

The Michigan-headquartered company said it is one of 124 suppliers to Boeing to receive the award.

"Kaydon is delighted to be honored again this year by Boeing, and especially proud to achieve the gold level," said John Saber, director, aerospace and defense, for Kaydon Bearings. "This award is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the entire Kaydon team."

Meanwhile, Ducommun Incorporated reports it has received Supplier Gold status from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., for its supply of custom inter-connect and electronic assemblies for Black Hawk helicopters.

The components are manufactured at the company's facilities in Berryville and Huntsville, Ark.

"We are extremely proud to be expanding our Gold status for quality and delivery with Sikorsky," said Anthony J. Reardon, chairman and chief executive officer of California-headquartered Ducommun. "Ducommun has demonstrated consistently that we have the processes in place to meet Sikorsky's stringent quality and manufacturing requirements.

"This achievement opens the door to expanding our business base with UTC as a preferred supplier."