InnovationHydra-Electric specializes in the design, manufacturing and testing of aerospace pressure switches. All three of these wide areas of expertise must each be powered by Innovation and Imagination.Innovation is prominent in Hydra-Electric’s Engineering Design:Over five decades ago Hydra-Electric developed and patented the snap action sensing of pressure by means of the negative rate disk spring, employing an additional trim spring for pressure adjustment. This environmentally superior powered snap action design has since become the standard for critical aerospace applications. The Engineering Department at Hydra is equipped with the latest computer-aided-design capabilities, enabling it to quickly bring forth brand new product designs as well as design iterations. Engineering is supported by a prototype area and a complete dynamic testing laboratory with random and sine vibration equipment, temperature altitude chambers, hydraulic and pneumatic test benches and the needed supporting multi-channel instrumentation. Innovation is quite evident in the Manufacturing Technology side of Hydra-Electric:Hydra-Electric has included Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement in its daily operating philosophy, resulting in increased quality and reliability while reducing the cost of ownership. We have seen significant improvements in the machining and assembly functions, achieving product flows that have reduced cycle times and improved our internal quality. We have on-going programs to increase our green belt and black belt expertise, and have self-directed teams managing product flow and addressing process improvement. Kanbans are performed when needed in our Inventory Control Department to help reduce cycle times. Innovation is easily found in the Product Testing side at Hydra:Our test labs are equipped with dynamic testing capabilities such as vibration, temperature shock, impulse and pump ripple testing, etc. Many one of a kind test fixtures and test procedures have been developed at Hydra-Electric, keeping it on the forefront of testing expertise. |  |
