Enduralock
Lenexa, Kansas, United States
Enduralock
!
Leader of innovative fastener and connector technologies in markets spanning from defense, aerospace, and energy.
About Enduralock
Dr. Harold Hess is the visionary founder of Enduralock, a pioneering company at the forefront of innovating technologies that improve aircraft assembly and maintenance times and facilitate space logistics through In-Space Servicing Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM). With a background as a Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon and an inventor with over 60 patents worldwide, Hess has seamlessly transitioned from revolutionizing medical devices to redefining how critical components function in extreme environments.
Frustrated by the lengthy surgery and recovery times he witnessed while specializing in neurosurgery, Dr. Hess co-founded Spinal Simplicity and invented an interspinous-interlaminar fusion device with a proprietary high-durability locking mechanism that endured 5 million cycles of compression and 5 million cycles of torque without loosening. Recognizing the broader industrial applications of his technology, he founded Enduralock to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in aerospace – creating fasteners that can withstand high vibrations, thermal fluctuations, and the demands of in-orbit assembly.
Hess’s strategic vision has propelled Enduralock into the aerospace and defense sectors, ensuring its technology remains adaptable across industries. The company’s flagship innovations include high-vibration resistant fasteners and an advanced self-aligning nut plate system. These technologies eliminate the need for traditional safety wiring, reducing lifecycle costs while enhancing structural reliability. The company is currently advancing satellite docking systems and adapting its fasteners for vision-based intelligent systems, paving the way for fully autonomous in-orbit assembly.
As the space industry evolves, Hess remains committed to innovation, focusing on solutions that will enable the servicing, upgrading, and construction of satellites in orbit.
Description of Services
Mission
To be the global leader of innovative fastener and connector technologies in markets spanning from defense, aerospace, and energy.
Vision
To pioneer the creation of a space infrastructure through autonomous robotic fastener assembly and satellite servicing and refueling.
What we do
Our Fastener Technology
- Permanent Lock
- Standard Tool
- Reusable
- Automation
Industry Applications:
Defense
We have been awarded two Air Force Phase I SBIR contracts and we are currently under four Air Force Phase II SBIR contracts. Our products ensure safety and reliability in the harshest of environments. Allowing for faster turnaround and reduced maintenance time, they are ideal for in-space assembly and maintenance, replacement of safety wire, and ground vehicle applications, such as attachment of armor plates, attachment of tread, and ground vehicle suspension systems
Spacecraft
We were recently awarded a Space Force Phase I STTR and TACFI (Tactical Add-On Funding) contract. We were a 2019 NASA iTech winner and three of our space challenge solutions were final selectees in AFWERX’s EngageSpace 2020. A future robust space economy with modular architectures dependent on in-orbit manufacturing makes our revolutionary fastening technology ideal.
AIRCRAFT
We have published five National Aerospace Standards (NAS9936, NAS9937, NAS9938, NAS9940 and NAS9942) Planned aircraft applications include landing gear, engines, wing flaps, paneling, replacement of safety wire and castle nuts, and replacement of current nut plate technologies.
Oil & Gas
Enduralock is currently supplying our technology to the oil and gas industry for 17,000psi locking gas fittings for off-shore well completions. We offer the first mechanically locking, high vibration resistant API bolts for pipelines and refineries, which reduce the chance of oil spillage from fastener loosening due to daily cyclical thermal expansion and contraction of the bolts.
