When C&D Aerospace decided to consolidate metalworking tools and equipment in one location, the decision was made to build an attractive and functional centrally located tool crib. C&D hired design firm DMARK, which put together a storage and workspace solution using Lista International cabinets.

The Lista cabinets have greatly increased the efficiency of C&D's tool storage and preparation operation. A large variety of tools and hardware fit into the new Lista cabinets, which range in height from 2.125 to 15 inches and include reconfigurable compartments. The Lista cabinet drawers open fully from the cabinet housing, so users can easily access items stored in the rear of the drawers.

Other features in the C&D tool crib include four Lista workstations with butcher-block tops, and workbenches in the quality control area with stainless steel tops suitable for parts inspections.

C&D has realized a large drop in tool-preparation time, thanks to the new tool crib, and increased equipment utilization. Phone: 508-429-1350, www.listaintl.com

Make Weigh More Money

Aircraft maintenance shops are leaving tons of potential business on the table by not weighing their customers' aircraft more often, according to the folks at General Electrodynamics. The problem is that typical aircraft scales are too hard to use, which keeps maintenance shops from using them more often. But aircraft actual weight varies over the life of an aircraft, yet accurate weight is critical for proper weight and balance and aircraft performance, according to GEC spokesman Curtis Jennings.

The problem with most scales used to weigh airplanes is that they are either jack-type scales, which can be difficult to use on some airplanes like retractable-gear Cessna singles, or they are platforms about four inches high, which require lots of manhandling to get the wheels in place. "You've got to wrestle an airplane on them," said Jennings. "By the time it gets done, the mechanic has so much time invested that he can't charge the customer."

GEC's Ultra Low Profile 410 weighing system consists of three low-profile self-contained scales that each weigh 23 pounds for easy transport. Low profile means each scale is less than an inch high so no ramps are needed to place the aircraft's wheels on the scale. Each scale can weigh up to 10,000 pounds so the system can be used to weigh fairly large airplanes.

Accurate weight, said Jennings, "is a big deal for these older airframes. As you add items, then you've created an issue of suddenly you're in an aircraft where you may be a test pilot. Over the years, you take a Cessna 172 and little changes are made, radios, repaint the stabilizer, and a number of these negligible changes add up over the years. Recently a Cessna 414 with 1,200 hours had no changes or alterations, but it was 80 pounds heavier and had not been weighed since new."

GEC's ULP 410 system retails for $9,995, and the company promotes the scales as a business opportunity for maintenance and avionics shops. Many customers, Jennings said, would appreciate the opportunity to have an accurate reading of actual weight. And maintenance and avionics shops could easily provide this service with a set up GEC low-profile scales. "I believe a shop can make money doing this," he said. Phone: 817-572-0366, www.gecscales.com.

Arc Fault CBs Available from Eaton

Eaton Aerospace's new arc fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers are now available in single- and three-phase AC and 28-volt DC applications for military and civil aircraft. Arc fault circuit interrupter technology allows immediate detection of arcing events in wiring, reducing the chance the wires might catch fire and generate toxic smoke or cause a larger inflight fire. According to Eaton, the new arc fault circuit breakers are compatible with existing circuit breaker designs or they can be custom-designed for specific applications. Phone: 941-751-7112, www.eaton.com.