Mr Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President & General Manager, Joint Strike Fighter Program reinforced his company’s commitment to Australian aerospace supplier Marand Precision Engineering (Marand) during Asia’s most prestigious aerospace event – the Australian 2009 International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition.
At a special presentation on Wednesday 11 March 2009, Mr Burbage formally acknowledged the exceptional work and capabilities of Marand by presenting the company’s general manager, Rohan Stocker, with the Lockheed Martin Award for Supplier Excellence.
It was Marand’s determination to complete and exceed Lockheed Martin’s schedules for the design and manufacture of composite lay up and trim tooling that impressed the company so much.
Lockheed Martin initially had given Marand nine months to provide 123 tools for the program, then later asked Marand to shave a total of four months off this schedule. Significant effort by Marand to re-schedule work enabled the company to supply the tools in five months.
Mr Burbage said that his company “very strongly appreciated” the approach and work completed by Marand.
To date Marand has shipped 320 tools to Lockheed Martin as well as the JSF Engine Installation and Removal Trailers.
Lockheed Martin’s award was presented ‘In appreciation of the F-35 Program Control Surface and Edge Tooling Initiative, and Support of the Lockheed Martin Palmdale Site Applications’ said the inscription on the plaque.
Lockheed Martin chose the Airshow as a fitting platform to formally recognize Marand as a leading international supplier for the JSF program in front of the industry’s most influential companies and government representatives.
At the formal award ceremony held at Avalon, Mr Stocker thanked the Federal Government’s Department of Defence, the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, and the Federal De- partment of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
Marand won its first Lockheed Martin F-35 order in 2003 with assistance from these departments.
Consistently providing high quality and timely products has enabled Marand to forge strong bonds with Lockheed Martin, proof of which was the award presented.
Marand Precision Engineering is an Australian owned company. It has been operating since 1969 working in the design, manufacture and execution of aerospace, automotive, automation & robotics, renewable energies and rail equipment.
L to R: Rohan Stocker General Manager Marand Precision Engineering, Paul Truden Marand Scheduler, Bob Price, Australia F-35 Program Manager, Lockheed Martin Aero- nautics, Rob Kusters Marand Aerospace Tooling Manager.
L to R: Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President & General Manager of the Joint Strike Fighter Program with Rohan Stocker, General Manager Marand Precision Engineering.
Media Enquiries
Alex Lyon
+61 417 384 223
alex_lyon@marand.com.au
