Having Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems as a customer gives Normeka over 40 per cent of the world market for ISL systems.

Normeka has more than 30 years experience of machining, manufacturing and product assembly. The company soon established a reputation as specialists in the manufacture of masts, aerials and cable ducts and over the years has developed to become an acknowledged market leader in this niche. Over 1,000 airports in upwards of 100 countries worldwide are equipped with complete landing systems including ILS from the company which through it`s customer Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems now has nearly 40 per cent of the world market!

AmpliForm is a product range based on the expanded metal technique. AmpliNett is used where a strong lattice that can be seen through is needed such as gates, doors and screens.

Withstand extreme pressures

For many years Normeka has produced a special range of products based on the expanded metal technique. These are marketed under the trade name AmpliForm and include walkway extrusions, railings and masts. An extrusion is pressed through a special machine and then slit to a predetermined shape and then stretched to the required width. These extrusions are used where there are special demands for things like strength, shape and weight. Normeka recently launched AmpliSafe – a completely new product based on the expanded metal technique. These include masts for lights and landing that meet the extremely high demands made by airports. They should be frangible to minimize damage to an aircraft in the event of a collision at the same time as being able to withstand winds of 216 km/hr and pressure loads of 30 tons.

Detailed development work

AmpliSafe – a completely new product based on the expanded metal technique. These include masts for lights and landing that meet the extremely high demands made by airports.

AmpliSafe has been developed in close cooperation with Hydro Aluminium Profiler and Normeka’s partner Astrup. This has involved detailed and complicated development, design work, tests and documentation. The development of alloys with the necessary strength that are easy to extrude and machine has required strength calculations, simulated fatigue tests and working life, thorough corrosion tests culminating in providing the final documentation for each airport. AmpliSafe masts have been produced for landing lights, meteorological equipment, simple antennae and complete glide path masts consisting of three frangible AmpliSafe masts mounted in an equilateral triangle with 1.7 metre sides that can be built up to a height of 15 metres. They are designed to be quick and easy to assemble – including a unique joining system – and are delivered flat packed to each site. “Our business is built around providing high quality machining,” says Sigurd Nilsen, Normeka’s managing director. “The long standing, close cooperation with Hydro has greatly benefited our long-term stability and the reliability of our deliveries as well as our technical skills and knowledge of the materials involved.”

Among the best 22 of 10,000!

In 2010 Normeka was named as being among the best 22 of the 10,000 suppliers to Northrop Grumman Corporation Information Systems. Among the criteria for the award were high technical ability, high quality production, good management and a clear focus on customer service. “An award like this has been a great inspiration to us and has encouraged us to invest in new product areas like AmpliSafe,” says Sigurd Nilsen.

The new AmpliSafe masts shine like a beacon in Normeka’s product range!