SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 23, 2009 — LAI International, Inc. announced it will debut its brand-new exhibit at Power-Gen International Exposition, Dec. 8-10, showcasing its advanced capabilities for manufacturing turbine components.
   LAI International’s exhibit will be located at Booth C4-374 at Power-Gen International at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas. The world’s largest power generation event is expected to attract 18,000 industry professionals from 27 countries.
   LAI, a strategic supplier of precision-machined parts for original equipment manufacturers, provides turnkey manufacturing and overhaul services for many components and subassemblies found in both gas and steam turbine units for power generation plants and in jet engines used around the world.
   LAI will spotlight its advanced manufacturing technologies, including its advanced waterjet, laser, Electrical-Discharge Machining or EDM, five-axis machining and other machining methods used to process precision components and make-complete subassemblies for industrial and aerospace turbines. LAI's specialized operations excel at near-net cutting, drilling, machining and welding difficult-to-machine materials, including stainless steel, Inconel and titanium.
   “LAI utilizes a full range of manufacturing processes to provide make-complete components and subassemblies for the power generation sector,” Darcy Dodge, V.P. of Strategic Products for LAI, said.
   LAI has pioneered and advanced the processes for creating shaped cooling holes in turbine components. The company’s  proprietary processes for hole drilling maximize flow characteristics and extend the life cycle of parts.
   One of those advanced processes use an enhanced abrasive waterjet milling technology that eliminates thermal distortion, re-cast layers and the need for secondary operations. LAI’s Drill-to-Flow Abrasive Waterjet Process^TM allows drilling of precision shaped holes to diameters as small as 0.018 inches. The innovative precision drilling process provides a number of advantages over non-traditional machining methods, including superior hole quality, greater design freedom, tighter flow control, improved hole profiles and lower processing costs.
   LAI’s exhibit will feature examples of its precision-manufactured turbine components, along with presentations of its precision manufacturing processes.
   “Power-Gen — our most important marketing event targeted to our power generation market — allows us a unique opportunity to present our advanced technology to the world,” Matt Kalina, Director of Marketing for LAI, said.
    LAI manufactures components for wind, solar and nuclear power, maritime gas turbine engines, steam turbines, hydrogen fuel cells, auxiliary power units, as well as air-based turbine engines. LAI provides manufacturing services for precision turbine components, including hot-gas components, blades, buckets, impingement plates, inserts, nozzles, partitions, seals, shrouds, spacer bands and vanes.

About LAI International
   LAI is a leading contract manufacturer of precision-engineered components and assemblies for aerospace, power generation, defense, medical and other advanced technology industries. The company’s technology, engineering and manufacturing solutions are used to build components for airframes, aircraft engines, power generators, defense systems, medical devices and other mission-critical applications.
   LAI has developed strategic relationships with leading global OEMs and operates five U.S. manufacturing facilities, with locations in Minneapolis, Phoenix, Tucson, Westminster, Md., and Scarborough, Maine – all of which are ISO 9001 and AS9100 certified. The company also offers NADCAP-certified non-conventional machining processes.
   LAI has developed innovative applications in advanced machining processes, including waterjet cutting and drilling, laser cutting, drilling, welding and heat-treating, EDM drilling, CNC EDM, high-speed EDM, conventional CNC machining, five-axis CNC machining and precision grinding. The company also provides gage calibration, tooling production, air-flow inspection and additional manufacturing services.
   For more information, see www.LAIco.com. 
  
Quick Facts about LAI International
- Five U.S. manufacturing facilities: Phoenix, Tucson, Minneapolis, Westminster, Md., and Scarborough, Maine
- Founded in 1979
- Corporate headquarters located in Scottsdale, Ariz.
- All facilities ISO 9001 | AS9100 certified
- GE Customer Impact of the Year Award winner
- Lockheed Martin Corporate STAR Supplier
- Northrop Grumman Platinum Source Preferred Supplier
- ACE Corporate Excellence Award winner, 2008-09
- An Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private U.S. company, three-time award winner, 2007-09