Acorn Growth Companies is a private equity firm focused exclusively on aerospace and defense opportunities.  Based in Oklahoma City, Acorn has companies across the Unites States operating within its portfolio—all under its primary banner, AGC Aerospace & Defense.  AGC Aerospace & Defense is the second largest Oklahoma headquartered defense company.

While several companies under the AGC Aerospace & Defense banner are making great strides with new technology, one close to “home” is Veracity Technology Solutions.  Veracity is a leader in developing customized solutions to provide faster, better, and more cost effective non-destructive inspection (NDI) approaches for customers in the aerospace and defense and power generator industries. 

Aerospace, defense, and power generation companies are required to periodically examine various components of their high valued assets (such as wings on aircraft or compressor blades on gas turbines) to ensure their safety, efficiency, and reliability – the examination of those assets is frequently cumbersome and time consuming.

Under a Small Business Innovation Research award, Veracity and USUT Labs worked together to adapt medical grade ultrasonic technology for use in the NDI process.  The innovative technology developed provides clearer, more precise images to allow inspectors to target areas of concern.  As well, Veracity’s proprietary technology is portable.

Recently, Veracity delivered a new non-destructive inspection capability to the U.S. Air Force for routine aircraft evaluations.  The company provided two customized inspection units to Tinker AFB in September that were specifically designed to locate cracks in the KC-135 aircraft.  Veracity engineers have been pleased with the test results, which led to a decrease in inspection time by 87 percent.

Not only does this mean a cost savings, but more importantly in this time of high operational tempo for the US Forces, they can get their aircraft back in the air quickly.   An added benefit was that the new inspection replaces hazardous x-ray technology and will provide a much safer work environment.

Other Acorn companies operating under the AGC Aerospace & Defense brand are making strides using composite materials to design and produce weight reduction in aircraft, to improve supply chain logistics, and to increase special mission aircraft capabilities.  We invite you to learn more about us at www.agcaerospace.com and www.veracityts.com.