UMBRAGROUP S.p.A. designs, manufactures and services critical actuation components and equipment for various defense, airborne and ground platforms.
The company’s products include actuation components such as ball screws, sector gears, pinions, tie rod, gimbals, balls, acme screws, as well as higher integrated actuation equipment, including linear electromechanical actuators (EMAs), controls and more recently rotary actuators.
UMBRAGROUP’s products are widely used and known in commercial and defence aerospace, equipping most of the current fighters, tactical and mission’s aircraft as well as helicopters (Landing and Braking systems, Flight Controls, Thrust Reversers and Thrust Vectoring). Another area of expertise lies also in the control actuation systems (CAS) of missiles and torpedoes, with thousands of miniature ball screw made yearly for that application.
Critical actuation components for the defense industry
UMBRAGROUP offers high-precision bespoke designed actuation products, complete with kitting, mechanical assembly and testing. The company could also provide build-to-print actuation assemblies and test on request, and can also source and supply third-party products that can be integrated into equipment prior customer delivery.
UMBRAGROUP specialises in the development of function-tailored actuation solutions, whether as simple stand-alone components or as a set of integrated actuators and electromechanical actuators (EMAs).
In addition to our extensive expertise on high-precision machining and high-accuracy metrology and assembly, UMBRAGROUP has experience in other elements of EMAs such as design of optimised electric motors and power / control electronics.
Extensive internal testing and qualification capabilities in support of Customers qualification and certification requirements.
Actuation components for military applications
UMBRAGROUP supplies actuation components to the aerospace and defence sectors with a long-standing pedigree. Besides the core expertise in design and manufacturing of flight- and mission-critical ball screws, UMBRAGROUP can also provide:
- High-precision machined gear elements: pinions, sprockets and sector gears
- Torque and torsion tubes
- Splined components
- Non-reversible ‘no back’ systems
- Tie rods
- Acme screws
- Balls
UMBRAGROUP’s products are designed, manufactured and dispatched from UMBRAGROUP’s HQ in Italy (Foligno, PG), as well as from two facilities in the US (LINEAR MOTION LLC in Saginaw, Michigan, and Umbra Cuscinetti Inc., in Everett Washington).
UMBRAGROUP’s global footprint ensures a safe continuity of supply and allows us to handle the most stringent trade compliance, either under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) / Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or as strict ITAR-free supply.
Our team of skilled engineers consider the wider engineering picture and can generate the most effective design and manufacturing solutions that offer value without compromising on quality.
Complete electromechanical actuator solutions
Building on 45 years of experience in specific actuation components, UMBRAGROUP now supplies complete actuators to the defence industry.
UMBRAGROUP’s engineering team have developed innovative solutions that offer compact design and optimise the mechatronic chain. We optimise actuation power and torque density considering also thermal management and novel electric power architectures to propose the optimal technical compromise at affordable costs.
UMBRAGROUP is also supplying the A400M Main Rotor brake actuator, as well as actuation systems on UAVs, such as flight- and engine-control actuation systems. Optronic gimbals of the NH90 tactical helicopter or on EH101 are also equipped of Umbra’s EMAs.
Today, UMBRAGROUP EMAs are pioneering the first electric helicopter landing gear and the company has recently revealed an initial concept of a fault / jam tolerant, fully redundant direct drive linear actuator as well as innovative rotary actuator.
Maintenance, repair and overhaul services for actuation components
UMBRAGROUP can support the maintenance, repair and overhaul of its products, as well as of some third-party solutions.
The company offers competitive turnaround times and a dedicated 24-hour hotline, as well as a service organisation based around two repair stations in Saginaw, and Foligno, Italy. We also have product support teams available to offer support in Europe, the US and Asia.
UMBRAGROUP is proud to have one of the most comprehensive quality systems and customer / regulation accreditations. Our certifications include ISO 9001, AS/EN 9100 (America/Europa), EASA Part 21 G, EASA Part 145, FAA FAR 145 (USA), TCCA Part 145 (Canada), CAAC CCAR 145 (China), NADCAP, ISO 14001 (environmental management system), and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series).
About UMBRAGROUP
The origins of UMBRAGROUP date back to the 1970s with the fabrication of balls and bearings for FAG in the heart of the Umbria region of Italy. Soon after, the company started to produce ball screws for the aerospace and defense industry and became independent in 1993.
Pioneer of innovation, UMBRAGROUP introduced stainless steel ball screw CRONIDUR 30 and alternate silicon nitride balls.
Since then, UMBRAGROUP has continuously developed and expanded its global footprint and product portfolio. The company grew and expanded its business into Germany and the US in the 1990s. UMBRAGROUP is also investing significantly in innovation and design, incorporating resources from its recently acquired SERMS partner and research centre in Southern Italy. More recently, UMBRAGROUP acquired LINEAR MOTION LLC, another US prominent supplier of ball screw and actuation solution.
The company is currently working on new manufacturing techniques, such as robotisation, automation, and process digitalisation. Today, UMBRAGROUP is market leader for commercial and defense ball screw and one of the largest manufacturers electro-mechanical actuation components, equipping most of the most modern airframes for large commercial and business jets, as well as helicopters and tactical / fighter aircraft.