CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB
http://www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC
Volume LI			November 6, 2000		12:00 noon
							Cellar at Union Square
THIS WEEK__________________________________________________________________
Gail Ownby-Hughes, Emergency Services Coordinator at Chattanooga State
Technical Community College, will present on Industrial Accidents, The NaK
Explosion at  the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Ms. Hughes will tell
us what happened at the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge? How did it happen? And what
was the end result?

LAST WEEK___________________________________________________________________
Litespeed Racing Components is a 13 year old world class bicycle
manufacturing company that has been operating quietly in Ooltewah.  The
company started out as a machine shop specializing in titanium parts.  When
owner, David Lynskey, began cycling as a rehab activity after an automobile
accident, some bicycle parts were made and sold.  Within a few years, the
bicycle side of the operation won over.  Today, the small Ooltewah company,
with less than 70 employees, is producing 10,000 frames per year.
Litespeed bicycles are known for its titanium material.  Litespeed believes
titanium is the best material for ultra high-performance bicycle frames.
Ounce for ounce, the bicycle frames made with titanium alloys are
significantly stronger than the best aluminum, carbon fiber, or steel
frames. The titanium alloys have a fatigue life that is up to five times
that of aluminum or steel. Furthermore, due to its molecular structure,
titanium has the unique ability to damp vibrations without deadening the
overall feel of the bike and without significant energy loss. Litespeed
talks about the titanium's "magical ride" quality.  It is the combination of
the liveliness of high quality steel tubes, the shock absorbency of good
carbon fiber, and the stiffness of aluminum.
After Lance Armstrong won the 1999 Tour de France riding a Litespeed bike
with Trek labelling, the company became known outside the cycling world.
Litespeed allowed itself to be purchased by JHK, an investment company, to
infuse some capital for growth.  The company also owns and produce two other
brands, Merlin and Quantana Roo (QR).
Steve Dunn and Rodney Coogle led the members through the bicycle frame
production area.  The process starts with raw tubing.  The tubing is then
machined, shaped, and cut per specifications.  The frames are first put
together on a fixture and tacked.  Other processes are alignment, welding,
finishing, brushing, and decal.
For more information about the company, see www.litespeed.com.


COMING PROGRAM________________________________________________________

November 13 - Jerry White, Business Partnership Coordinator of Hamilton
County School, will talk about Partners in Education program.
November 20 - field trip, Erlanger Wound Center's Hyperbaric Unit.




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