K&F gets contract for US military fuel tank made of PU

By Liz White, UT staffWhite Plains, New York-Engineered Fabrics Corp. (EFC), has won a five-year contract with the US Department of Defense to supply polyurethane-based fuel tanks for the C-130 military aircraft. Initial orders have already been delivered, said a statement from White Plains-headquartered K&F Industries Holdings Inc., which owns EFC. EFC will supply the flexible bladder fuel tanks to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, which is the US Air Force's (USAF) primary service command for the C-130. The deal should generate about $11 million in sales, said K&F. "The C-130 has been the workhorse of the US Air Force for over 40 years … we are very pleased that the DoD has recognised the differentiating characteristics of our EFC fuel tanks, which will be a critical component of this key asset of the USAF fleet of tactical aircraft," commented Kenneth Schwartz, K&F Industries president and chief executive officer. According to K&F, the C-130 is the US military's main troop and cargo transport aircraft. It can carry about 10 000 gallons of fuel, in six internally mounted fuel tanks. The urethane construction of EFC's tanks "meets the strict environmental and structural requirements of the USAF and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)," said K&F, adding that they offer "cost-effective, efficient installation and removal during aircraft maintenance." K&F Describes Engineered Fabrics as "the leading supplier of flexible bladder fuel tanks for aircraft and helicopters for the US military, worldwide commercial transport and general aviation markets." EFC is also the only FAA-certified US supplier of polyurethane-manufactured fuel tanks, the company said. Since EFC's fuel tanks are self-sealing and crash-resistant, the firm said, they "significantly reduce the potential for fires, leaks and spilled fuel." EFC is also a major producer of the de-icing equipment and speciality coated fabrics used for storage, shipping, environmental and rescue applications in commercial and military markets, said the statement. In addition to EFC, K&F Industries Holdings operates Aircraft Braking Systems Corp., which it says is "one of the world's leading manufacturers of braking equipment for commercial, general aviation, and military aircraft." The picture shows USAF officers providing security for a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Balad Air Base in Iraq (l-r, Staff Sgt Tony Rivera, Senior Airmen Jason Bauer and Darryll Morley, with Staff Sgt Jason Sawyers, at rear of aircraft (US Air Force photo by Master Sgt Lance Cheung). "