Six Configurations Qualified & in Production
With additional configurations already in development.
Your Supply Options Ran Out. What Comes Next?
Discover how Rotor Clip turned a difficult aerospace sourcing challenge into a qualified production solution.
CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY
When Existing Sourcing Options Fell Short, Rotor Clip Stepped Up
A leading aerospace manufacturer needed high-performance piston and sealing rings for aircraft pneumatic systems and bleed valves but available sources weren’t consistently meeting the program’s requirements. Rotor Clip stepped in, applying nearly 70 years of precision retaining ring manufacturing experience to a product family we’d never made before, and delivered a qualified production source in months, not years.
Validated Manufacturing & Inspection Processes
New manufacturing and inspection processes established for this product family.
Stable Supply for a Hard-to-Source Part Category
Securing continuity for an active aerospace program.
Expanded Capability for Future Programs
Enhanced tooling, equipment, and expertise for aerospace.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Accelerating a Complex Aerospace Qualification Program
Aerospace qualification programs of this type often extend beyond 18 months. Through parallel workstreams and close coordination with the customer, Rotor Clip advanced major milestones significantly faster than a typical program of this nature. This structure enabled faster decisions, earlier issue resolution, and a shorter path to a reliable manufacturing source.
Program Requirements
Meeting the Demands of Aerospace Production
Aerospace programs require more than part-to-print manufacturing. These piston and sealing rings not only had to meet tight dimensional and sealing requirements, but also the quality, traceability, and production standards expected for an active aerospace program.
ENGINEERING & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
Applying Proven Manufacturing Capabilities to a New Product Family
Nearly 70 years of precision retaining ring manufacturing gave our team the core expertise to take this on, applied in a new way for piston and sealing ring production. Engineers worked directly from the customer’s prints to adapt existing processes into a controlled, repeatable one.
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
Investing in the Equipment & Resources Needed for Production
Supporting the program took more than adapting existing processes — Rotor Clip invested in new CNC machining, custom tooling and gauging, vision inspection, and in-house leak testing, backed by a newly established dedicated 20–25 person team. Combined with close engineering collaboration, that investment kept the program on track and ahead of schedule.
Have a Hard-to-Source Component?
Rotor Clip leverages nearly 70 years of precision stamping, coiling, and ring manufacturing experience to solve difficult manufacturing and engineering challenges.
Fill out the form and a Rotor Clip engineer will be in touch.
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Aerospace Retaining Ring & Wave Spring FAQs
Yes. Rotor Clip maintains AS9100 certification for aerospace quality management and supports aerospace programs with controlled manufacturing, inspection, documentation, and lot traceability. Rotor Clip also maintains ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications as part of its broader quality and environmental management systems.
Yes. Rotor Clip develops custom retaining rings and wave springs for applications that require non-standard dimensions, materials, tolerances, thicknesses, load requirements, or configurations. Our engineering team works directly with customers to evaluate the application and determine the appropriate design and manufacturing approach.
Rotor Clip maintains more than 100,000 sq. ft. of dedicated raw-material storage, giving customers access to a broad range of standard, specialty, and hard-to-source materials. For demanding aerospace environments, options include stainless steels and high-performance alloys such as 17-7 PH, A286, Inconel X-750, and Elgiloy, with material selection based on the specific operating requirements of the application.
Rotor Clip manufactures in the United States and Europe, with production facilities in New Jersey and the Czech Republic. Beyond manufacturing, our global presence includes engineering, customer service, sales, and logistics support across the UK, Germany, and China, allowing us to support customers with local expertise and a strong international supply network.
