Success Story

LOCATION

KS

Lenexa

TOTAL FUNDING

$8.4M

FUNDING AGENCIES

DoW - USSAF

Department of War: Air Force

Impact & Achievement

Enduralock, a Kansas based company, is advancing aerospace and space assembly through specialized fastening technologies designed for high reliability and efficiency. With support from the SBIR program, Enduralock has developed a vibration-resistant, mechanically locking fastener and a self-aligning nut plate that together streamline structural assembly and maintenance—on Earth and in orbit.

The fastener is engineered to remain secure even under extreme conditions. It exceeds aerospace vibration requirements tenfold, stays locked even if preload is lost, and eliminates the need for safety wire. Reversible and reusable using only a standard hex socket, the system enables faster, safer, and more efficient assembly—reducing installation and maintenance time by a factor of thirty. The accompanying nut plate automatically engages off-axis bolts and self-aligns during tightening, accommodating hole misalignment and simplifying complex structural work, such as aircraft wing panel installation. Together, these components offer a modular solution that supports robotic in space assembly while also improving ground-based aircraft operations.

As the buoy system evolved, so did its accessibility. Blue Ocean Gear developed user-friendly data interfaces, including integration with onboard vessel navigation systems, web dashboards, and open API access—making it easy for customers in diverse fields to tap into the platform’s real-time insights. These enhancements have enabled the company to enter new markets beyond commercial fishing, with recent sales to organizations in offshore wind, telecommunications, and meteorology. The same wave behavior data is now being explored for applications in coral reef restoration and maritime safety operations.

SBIR support from the U.S. Air Force and Space Force has been essential to Enduralock’s product development. Through two Air Force Phase II awards, the company applied its fastener system to legacy platforms including the B-1, B-2, and KC-135, as well as ground support equipment. In parallel, the company miniaturized its fasteners for space use and developed a robotic end effector for in-space assembly through Phase I and II awards. A Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) award has enabled Enduralock to build a fastener storage magazine and specialized tooling to support commercial deployment.

Continued SBIR investment has helped the company expand into additional aerospace domains, including a mechanically locking nut plate for hypersonic vehicles, a locking hydraulic/fuel line connector for aircraft and rocket engines, and a locking electrical connector. Under a current Space Force Phase II award, Enduralock is developing a multifunctional satellite docking connector capable of mechanical linkage, data and power transfer, and fuel transfer in a single unit.

Since 2021, Enduralock has secured five Phase I and six Phase II SBIR awards, along with a TACFI. This momentum has supported investment and recognition from major aerospace sponsors including Bell Helicopter and Boeing. The company’s designs have earned five new National Aerospace Standards and are protected by 31 patents, including 17 granted in the U.S.

Enduralock has transformed high-performance fastening into a scalable technology platform for aviation and space systems—offering practical, field-ready solutions to assembly and integration challenges across environments.

https://www.enduralock.com