U.S. Space Shuttle Program Honors NCFI Polyurethanes with Supplier Quality Excellence Award

Online, August 11, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Media Contact:
Dale McGlothlin
(202) 341-8615
[email protected]

U.S. Space Shuttle Program Honors NCFI Polyurethanes with Supplier Quality Excellence Award

MOUNT AIRY, NC-NASA and Lockheed Martin Space Systems, principals of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program, recently awarded NCFI Polyurethanes the coveted Supplier Quality Excellence Award for exemplary work on the shuttle's External Tank Program (ET). The award honors outstanding performance by hardware and software suppliers and subcontractors who support NASA Human Space Flight Programs. The award is presented in the form of a large, engraved trophy and accompanying letter provided by NASA and Lockheed Martin.

Steve Riddle, president of NCFI Polyurethanes, accepted the award from Lockheed Martin representatives Reynold J. Abadie, Jr., John Welborn, and Sherman Avans. Only twelve suppliers, out of many hundreds involved with the shuttle's ET Program at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, LA, are selected for this award.

"We're thrilled to receive this award from NASA and Lockheed Martin," says Riddle. "We've been involved with the External Tank Program since way back in 1980, so we know how rare this reward is and we know the standards involved. The award goes to a handful of suppliers who achieve an exacting performance mix of high quality products, technical excellence, superior cost performance and adherence to schedules. On behalf of everyone here at the NCFI family, we're proud to play a role in or country's manned space program, and we're humbled to be selected for this prestigious honor."

Jud Brown, executive vice president for NCFI, adds, "People who know us know we're an American-owned company making our mark on the world by providing the highest quality urethane products and backing them up with the very best technical support in the business. This NASA/Lockheed Martin award recognizes our many years of unrelenting commitment to those goals."

The External Tank is the non-reusable major component of the Space Shuttle system and consists of the ET, the Orbiter and the two Solid Rocket Boosters. The ET is the single largest element at 154 feet long and 27.6 feet in diameter, and during launch it serves as the structural backbone of the shuttle, absorbing most of the six million pounds of thrust generated during flight and providing propellant to the Orbiter's three main engines.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview on this subject contact:
Dale McGlothlin (202) 341-8615
[email protected]

About NCFI
NCFI was organized in 1964 by research chemist, Dr. H. W. Bradley and Barnhardt Manufacturing Company. NCFI is headquartered in Mt. Airy, NC and manufactures polyurethane foam chemical systems for spray foam-in-place insulation (SPF), roofing, marine floatation, packaging, specialty molding, and many other uses. The company also offers a complete line of flexible foams for furniture seating, transportation seating, bedding, carpet underlay, and packaging. NCFI also has manufacturing plants in Hickory, N.C., Dalton, GA., and Salt Lake City, UT. To learn more about NCFI please visit www.NCFI.com.