Official partner — Supply, integration & training

FTI
— Fatigue Technology

Official partner — Supply, integration & training

Kronos Engineering is an official partner of FTI — Fatigue Technology: tooling supply, on-site process integration, qualification and operator training. Direct access to one of the world's reference technologies, backed by the field support of an independent special-processes expert operating in 50+ countries.

FTI — Fatigue Technology technologies — overview

Official partnership

Split Sleeve Cold Expansion (SsCx)

Official partnership

ForceMate — expanded bushing installation

Supply & distribution

outillage cold expansion (mandrins, manchons, jauges, pullers)

Typical use cases

▸ Cold expansion of bores in spars and fuselage frames
▸ ForceMate bushing installation on landing gear
▸ Supply of cold expansion kits for MRO shops
▸ Fatigue life extension of ageing structures (SLEP)

Standards & compliance

BACC 5060AMS 2432spécifications FTI

The Kronos difference

Official FTI — Fatigue Technology partnership: Kronos supplies the tooling, trains your operators and qualifies the process on your parts — a single point of contact from supply to NADCAP compliance, with field operations in 50+ countries.

Context and positioning

FTI (Fatigue Technology, Seattle, USA) is the inventor and the world reference for Split Sleeve Cold Expansion™ — cold expansion of holes using a split sleeve — and the ForceMate® expanded-bushing installation systems. Since 1969, its technologies have equipped nearly every major aerospace programme to multiply the fatigue life of critical holes: wing spars, fuselage frames, landing gear.

Kronos Engineering is an official FTI partner — a rare position: the global cold-expansion market counts only two players. We provide FTI tooling supply (mandrels, split sleeves, gauges, puller units, complete kits), on-line process integration, qualification to BACC 5060 and OEM specifications, and operator training — across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and wherever your programmes require.

Typical operations

FTI cold-expansion tooling supply

Mandrels, split sleeves, inspection gauges, hydraulic puller units, per-diameter kits — European and international supply with full traceability.

Process integration on OEM or MRO lines

Deployment of Split Sleeve Cold Expansion on your lines: process sheets, BACC 5060 / OEM-spec qualification, first-article validation.

ForceMate bushing installation

High-interference expanded bushings for landing gear and critical fittings — installation, inspection, documentation.

FTI cold-working operator training

Theory + hands-on curriculum on FTI tooling: mandrel selection, expansion control, gauging, traceability — in Bordeaux or at your site.

Service life extension (SLEP)

Cold expansion of fatigued holes on ageing structures — military and civil — to extend life limits without part replacement.

Why Kronos on FTI — Fatigue Technology

One of very few official FTI partners. Global cold expansion is a duopoly — partnering with the leader guarantees you original tooling, up-to-date specifications and a direct supply channel.

Supply + process + training from a single point of contact. Where a distributor stops at delivery, Kronos qualifies the process on your parts (BACC 5060, OEM specifications), trains your operators and deploys on site in 50+ countries.

NADCAP framework expertise. Our special-processes mastery and audit experience take your cold-working installation all the way to full compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Can Kronos supply FTI tooling in Europe?+

Yes. As an official FTI partner, Kronos supplies mandrels, split sleeves, gauges, puller units and complete Split Sleeve Cold Expansion kits, with traceability and compliance to FTI and OEM specifications. Shorter lead times than direct transatlantic procurement.

What is the difference between split sleeve (FTI) and split mandrel (WCI)?+

Both cold-expansion processes improve hole fatigue life. Split sleeve (FTI) uses a sacrificial split sleeve between mandrel and hole — usually no post-expansion reaming. Split mandrel (WCI) works sleeveless with a split mandrel — it generally requires final reaming after expansion. The choice depends on the applicable OEM specification, access and production rate. Kronos masters both and advises according to your case.

Do you offer cold-working training on FTI tooling?+

Yes. Theoretical training (cold-expansion principle, residual stresses, standards) and hands-on practice (mandrel/sleeve selection, operation, inspection gauges, traceability) — at your site or in Bordeaux, with operator qualification certificate.

Can you qualify our cold-working installation to BACC 5060?+

Yes. We set up the process sheets, run the qualification tests, document the process file and support you through customer validation or NADCAP audit.

Audit, operation or
FTI — Fatigue Technology integration?

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FTI— Fatigue Technology