Sonic Industries, part of the Sargent Aerospace & Defense Company, uses Sunnen SV-1000 to achieve performance-critical ID tolerances and finishes on life-saving fuse pins, reducing cycle times by 75%.
Knowing when to "hold 'em," and when to "fold 'em" takes on new meaning when referring to the fuse pins designed to hold a jet engine on a wing, but to break away in emergency situations, allowing the engine to separate from the wing to prevent catastrophic structural failure and fires.
That is the performance dilemma faced by the highly engineered, precisely manufactured aerospace components produced by Sonic Industries.
To achieve this delicate "hold-or-fold" balance, Sonic relies on a new Sunnen SV-1000 honing system to produce the 5-to-7-micron ID tolerance and proprietary finish critical to the part's performance. The CNC-controlled SV-1000 also allowed Sonic to meet increased customer demand when it replaced a manual honing system, reducing cycle times from 40 minutes to 10 and increasing productivity from nine to 40 parts per day.
Sunnen Products Company and TIBO Tiefbohrtechnik Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Deep Hole Machining Solutions
Strategic alliance combines Sunnen’s honing expertise with TIBO’s deep hole drilling technologies to deliver comprehensive machining solutions
Sunnen Products Company, a global leader in precision honing and bore finishing technologies, and TIBO Tiefbohrtechnik GmbH, a specialist in deep hole drilling machines and systems, announces a strategic alliance to expand their global capabilities in deep hole machining solutions.
Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate on marketing and sales initiatives to deliver complementary machine tool technologies to customers within the machine tool industry worldwide. The combined portfolio brings together Sunnen’s expertise in honing and bore finishing with TIBO’s advanced deep hole drilling technologies, including BTA drilling, gundrilling, and rifling systems for demanding applications.
“We are excited about our partnership with TIBO as this greatly expands Sunnen's ability to be a full-service solutions provider,” said David Kreilein, CEO of Sunnen Products Company. “By adding additional BTA drilling, gundrilling and rifling machine solutions to our existing honing and deep hole drilling portfolio, we can deliver more comprehensive solutions to customers worldwide.”
“Combining TIBO and Sunnen’s global sales networks is a great opportunity for both our companies to serve additional customers across Europe, North America, and the Middle East,” said Ludwig Augustin, CEO of TIBO Tiefbohrtechnik GmbH. “Together we will offer one of the most comprehensive and technologically advanced portfolios of deep hole machining solutions available to industries ranging from aerospace and hydraulics to renewable energy and medical technology.”
Due to global political developments, the defense sector has gained significant importance in recent years. Through this partnership, Sunnen and TIBO provide customers with a comprehensive range of defense-capable deep hole machining solutions from a single source, including the following: deep-hole drilling, including solid drilling and counter boring (push/pull); rifling, including button rifling and crown cutters; honing, both horizontal and vertical; reaming, including pull reaming; skiving and burnishing in single or combined processes; and bottle boring, including contour holes.
Through this collaboration, Sunnen and TIBO will align marketing activities, share market intelligence, and collaborate on customer opportunities while continuing to operate independently and maintain their respective product lines. The partnership will initially focus on coordinated commercial efforts across Europe and the Middle East, with the potential to expand its scope and regional coverage over time. The alliance also enables co‑branded communications and joint sales initiatives designed to improve customer access to advanced deep hole machining technologies.
Precision bore honing abrasives are quietly redefining what’s possible in modern manufacturing, especially as industries push for tighter tolerances, tougher materials, and higher efficiency across the board.
Tolerance, in the world of aerospace and defense, has become the industry’s highest-stakes game. Even the slightest deviation can make the difference between mission success and catastrophic failure, whether in the skies, space, or on the battlefield. Parts need to fit with laser precision where straightness, bore geometry, and surface finishes align with unyielding accuracy.
