Ames Today and Beyond
During the beginning of the decade, Ames continued experimentation with different spray processes to develop ice-phobic and erosion-resistant coatings for the aerospace industry. The consistent progression led to a breakthrough that saw Ames achieve the levels of protection sought during the prototyping phase.
Parts were sent for final testing and once completed Ames was ready to shift a near decade-long prototyping effort into production. This production continued to ramp up and continues to grow today as Aerospace now makes up 1/3rd of Ames’ annual sales volumes.
At this time Ames began to shift into the alternative energy market, helping pioneer an innovative solution to help solar contractors maintain the warranty on roofs that were primed for solar panel installation. Another example of Ames’ willingness and ability to tackle a problem and find an effective solution for the end-user.
As the current decade drove forward Ames found opportunities to expand its personal safety and high-voltage electrical business as demand for mission-critical components made to the highest quality standards began to rise. Ames’ reputation for quality helped secure these new opportunities.
Ames continued to demonstrate the commitment to quality that won them the Malcolm Baldrige Award in 1993, achieving the AS9100 Rev D Aerospace certification. AS9100 Rev D focuses on creating value for customers by integrating QMS requirements into the company’s business processes with the goal of efficiently and consistently producing high-quality goods for the aerospace market.
The Future
As Ames grows into the future, an emphasis on incorporating new technologies such as rapid prototype 3D printing and robotics is underway. This mix of 7 decades of experience with the latest technologies allows Ames to continue to offer the best options and methods to produce its critical components. Ames will continue to invest in the latest technologies, the brightest minds in the industry, and blend them together with the plethora of know-how Ames has developed since 1949.
