Global Fastener News

Acument Forms Aerospace Division Headed by Aardema

John Wolz

Acument Global Technologies Inc. CEO Rick Dauch announced a new aerospace division to expand and focus on the high performance aerospace threaded fastener market.

Acument Aerospace will be headquartered in Rockford, IL and headed by Randy Aardema as general manager.

The new business unit follows the March 2008 announcement of Acument’s re-entry into the aerospace threaded fastener market with the opening of its Camcar Aerospace production complex occupying two renovated facilities in Rockford.

The Camcar operation already has received AS9100 Aerospace Quality Systems Certification and has begun production of aerospace-grade specialty screws, bolts and other threaded fasteners. Engineers at the Camcar Aerospace research and development lab are working jointly with the Northern Illinois University School of Engineering to conduct a $750,000 federally funded study on next-generation titanium aerospace fasteners.

Following the Camcar Aerospace announcement, Acument acquired Burbank, CA-based Saturn Fasteners, a specialty aerospace threaded fastener supplier. Saturn gave Acument an established base of more than 300 global customers and an immediate presence in the Southern California aerospace community. Saturn and Camcar Aerospace now will operate as part of the Acument Aerospace business unit.

“Forming our Acument Aerospace business unit signals Acument’s commitment to accelerate our growth as a significant supplier of aerospace threaded fastening technology,” Dauch said. “With the integration of our Saturn Fasteners acquisition complete and ramp-up of Camcar Aerospace now underway, we have reached the appropriate time to give our growing aerospace business the focus and leadership it requires. Our company has been a long-standing member of the manufacturing community in the Rockford and Belvidere area. Along with everyone at our local Camcar Aerospace operation, Acument takes great pride in joining the many global suppliers assembling what is fast becoming an aerospace technology cluster in the Rockford region.”

“When we first discussed the possibility of restarting aerospace fastener manufacturing less than a year ago, I immediately sensed a strong commitment from Acument officials,” U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo said. “Today’s announcement will spawn high-paying jobs in Rockford for years to come and validates our region as an epicenter of aerospace manufacturing and technology.”

Aardema’s Background

Aardema was named general manager of Aerospace & Technology for the Acument Global Technologies North America business unit, based in Sterling Heights, MI, in April 2008.
Aardema joined Acument (then Textron Fastening Systems) from the parent Textron Corp. in 2002. He previously held senior leadership positions in Textron operations, sales and general management, primarily with the Textron Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Corporate organizations. In 2005 he was appointed director of Textron Fastening Systems’ North America Operations Region 2. When Acument’s North America business unit was established in late 2006, Aardema was appointed director of continuous improvement.

Headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Troy, MI, Acument supplies mechanical fastening systems and value-based fastening solutions, including engineered fastening systems, fastening installation technology and inventory management and application engineering services. With about 8,500 employees in 17 countries, Acument has customers in more than 150 countries. Web: acument.com �2008 FastenerNews.com