JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Sept. 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) has been awarded a task order under the National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) Program to continue its efforts to design, validate, and implement laser coatings removal systems. The new task order will leverage work completed previously and on-going by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and CTC to combine laser technology with robotic manipulation systems as an environmentally acceptable replacement for traditional coatings removal processes.
The task order is comprised of two related efforts to develop and demonstrate an automated fiber laser coatings removal system for use on fighter and cargo aircraft processed at Air Logistics Centers (ALCs). Complete aircraft depainting is currently performed as part of the normal programmed depot maintenance process using abrasive dry media or chemical paint removers. This process generates solid waste that is difficult, time consuming and expensive to collect and manage.
"The task to depaint fighter size and cargo size aircraft is substantial. These processes also generate significant amounts of solid hazardous waste annually," said Jim Arthur, CTC Principal Process Engineer and project manager. "Automated laser decoating is expected to significantly reduce labor, waste volume, environmental risk, and overall cost."
CTC and AFRL have been at the forefront of the laser coatings removal field since 1999. The AFRL laser coatings removal program has received multiple awards, including the 2005 and 2009 Environmental Security Technology Certification Program Project of the Year Awards and the 2011 Society of Automotive Engineers' Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award.
More information on CTC's laser coating removal efforts can be found at the links below.
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Air Force Research Laboratory and Concurrent Technologies Corporation Win Society of Automotive Engineers' Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award for Laser Coatings Removal Program
- Concurrent Technologies Corporation Contracted by Air Force Research Laboratory to Design, Demonstrate, and Validate a Robotic Laser Coating Removal System for Removal of Coatings from F-16 Aircraft
Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) is an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization providing innovative management and technology-based solutions to government and industry. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, CTC's primary purpose and programs are to undertake applied scientific research and development activities that serve the public interest. For more information, visit www.ctc.com.
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