TA Aerospace (formerly TA Mfg.) is an industry leader in engineered elastomers and aerospace clamping to the aircraft market. Through the development of aerospace clamping solutions, Kirkhill-TA has become an industry leader in elastomer technology. Kirkhill-TA’s high temperature elastomer compounds continually set new standards for aerospace silicones. As a result, many major aerospace OEM’s write their standards around Kirkhill-TA elastomers and designs. Products include aerodynamic, firewall, high temperature, hatch, door, window, and EMI seals together with other custom and standard shapes.

TA Aerospace started as a job shop business during the 1940’s, in Howard Thomas’ garage. TA quickly made a reputation in the market with its quality and high temperature performance.

In 1975, Esterline purchased TA (Esterline was previously known as Criton Corp.) and brought the sales from $3 million to over $30 million.

TA moved from its Glendale location on Arden Street to its present location in Valencia in 1998. This 90,000 square foot facility was designed with the clamp processing in mind. It is laid out by work cell that subdivides the products into similar process flow types to maximize efficiency. TA Aerospace employs approximately 200 employees.

In 2001, Kirkhill-TA purchased the RM Channel Tape line and moved it from South Carolina, into its location in Valencia. That line manufactures approximately $1 million dollars of high temperature insulating material per year, for clamps that go directly on aircraft engines.

Also in 2001, Kirkhill-TA introduced the TFBI business unit to the world market. In development for over 5 years, Fastblock® material out performs all other fire barrier and insulation materials in its class. Fastblock® has several forms:

• FB100 is a solvent-based material used as a sealant, presently utilized by Northrop Grumman in their F18 E/F Fighter. It is used to seal gaps and repair thermal blankets that have been torn or damaged.
  
• FB301 is a molding compound that creates a fire barrier for use in the F18 fighter, capable of withstanding 2000 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
  
• FB800 is a water-based paste that is sold by the gallon and presently used by Boeing on their new Delta IV rocket. This application provides thermal protection on the heat shield.

Kirkhill-TA prides itself on providing engineering solutions to customer problems. It has a fully staffed R&D lab that keeps Kirkhill-TA in the forefront on new materials in the elastomer industry.