SCRA Announces $1.6M Contract With U.S. Army National Automotive Center
January 5, 2009
CHARLESTON, SC – January 5, 2009 – Imagine: a technology utilizing ultra-modern laser scanning that saves time and money when U.S. combat vehicles need refurbishment after returning back to the U.S. from battle.
With this technology, SCRA, a global leader in applied research and commercialization services, announces a prime contract executed by SCRA under the direction of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) in Warren, Michigan, which is the nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology. The contract administrator is the U.S. Army Tank Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM, also headquartered in Warren, Michigan). SCRA brings conceptualization, program development and management and engineering expertise to the contract and Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, Alabama will tactically implement the laser scanning technology.
Refurbishment under The Scanning Technology for Accelerating RESET program, referred to as STAR, refers to vehicle refurbishment after combat to meet established standards and mission requirements.
Refurbishment under the STAR program includes:
· Laser scans of military vehicles to determine where any undocumented parts have been installed, along with measurement of any sustained battle damage or missing equipment. Equipment modifications are then made for consistency and proper operation
· Replacement of conventional coordinate measurement machine (CMM) part inspections with non-contact scanning, which speeds the quality assurance process and enables precise measurements not previously achievable
· Scanning of existing parts for which no drawings exist, then the resulting data is converted to Computer Aided Design (CAD) models. These models can be quickly fabricated into the required parts. Damaged parts are scanned and then a direct metal deposition system is used to make repairs
Subcontractors who are conducting product data work for the STAR program with SCRA and Anniston Army Depot are Northrup Grumman Information Technology and Defense Support Services LLC (DS2), a Lockheed Martin and Day & Zimmermann company. Both companies are located in South Carolina.
“STAR illustrates the capabilities of SCRA and our partners to deliver assured outcomes to the U.S. Army and to our warfighters,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “We are proud to see our ideas put into action which delivers both improved mission fitness and financial returns to our clients.”
About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in Anderson, Charleston and Columbia. SCRA collaborates to advance technology. SCRA provides technology-based solutions with assured outcomes on behalf of industry, government, and research universities like Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. http://www.scra.org
