Story ID: 
First Aviation Services Acquires Saint Technologies 
By: Sarah Rose
Caption: Saint Technologies manufactures RealLock washer system
Word Count: 184
Connecticut-based First Aviation Services—an aircraft parts manufacturing, component maintenance, and engineering service company—has acquired Saint Technologies of Shannon, Illinois. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Saint Technologies, founded in 1999, manufactures specialized lock washers used for securing critical hardware assemblies in high-vibration and shock environments under the brand name RealLock.
“We are very pleased to announce Saint Technologies is joining First Aviation’s engineering-driven group of companies. RealLock has tremendous growth potential in the aerospace and defense industry as engineers seek products that save weight, reduce costs, and improve reliability. We welcome the Saint Technologies team into the First Aviation family,” said Paul Bolton, president and COO of First Aviation Services.
RealLock was invented as a “time-saving alternative to safety wire.” It includes a spring material that provides two independent lobes to allow the engaging nut to rotate over the lobes. As the nut is torqued, one lobe springs back to its original position, preventing the nut from reverse rotation, while the second lobe provides a force bias on the nut.