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Metal expertise: Aerofab, a division of Tube Processing Corp., manufactures components for engines used on commercial aircraft and military aircraft. The LEAP engine, or Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion, is an example of an engine that includes parts made by Aerofab.
History: Tube Processing Corp. was founded in 1939 by Edward Seybert, and the company grew under the leadership of Edward’s son, George Seybert. Katie Jacobsen, daughter of George Seybert, is Tube Processing’s current president. The company’s divisions are Aerofab, which specializes in complex sheet metal fabrications and precision machined components, and TPC Repair Station, which specializes in the repair, development and overhaul of aerospace and industrial gas turbine components.
Clients: Aerofab’s roster of clients includes GE Aviation (maker of the LEAP engine), Pratt & Whitney, Siemens and American Airlines, Jacobsen said.
Sparks fly: “It’s like the Fourth of July every day here,” said Charlie Sievers, a manager at Aerofab, when speaking about processes such as laser drilling and waterjet cutting. Aerofab’s machinery reaches 1,250 degrees Fahrenheit when forming titanium parts to meet certification standards.
Making the grade: Aerofab touts its certifications in six NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) categories: welding, heat treating, nonconventional machining, chemical processing, nondestructive testing and coatings.
Headquarters: Tube Processing’s 140 employees work in a 155,000-square-foot facility at 604 E. Legrande Ave., where a water tower featuring Aerofab’s logo is seen about a block north of the intersection of Raymond and East streets.
Art connection: After Tube Processing departed a former factory in the Garfield Park neighborhood, the company donated a 40,000-square-foot building to Big Car Collaborative—a not-for-profit focused on art. The building is being renovated to become a contemporary art museum and performance venue.
Website: tubeproc.com/aerofab
Correction: The original version of this story listed incorrect information for the number of employees who work for Tube Processing Corp. The correct number is 140. See more corrections here.
—Compiled by Dave Lindquist
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