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ATI metalcasting contract protects the warfighter
By Shelia Watson
Contributing Writer
A contract recently awarded to Advanced Technology Institute, an affiliate of the South Carolina Research Authority, will help develop metalcasting technologies and processes to support the Department of Defense in the war effort.
ATI’s one-year, $1 million Castings for Improved Defense Readiness contract will help the Defense Logistics Agency maintain and improve the reliability, availability and cost-effectiveness of metalcasting spare parts.
Castings are a significant part of the military’s backorder, which can make a difference in whether equipment is available for maneuvers in the war theater. In addition, the DLA’s supply centers are facing increased procurement challenges due to the age of the metal parts as well as outdated systems to keep track of them.
“These parts are made from molten metal poured into a mold, and on legacy or aging weapons systems, a lot of those castings and molds were made back in the 50s and 60s under old processes and with old alloys.” said Thornton White, senior program manager at ATI.
“Another problem with these older weapons systems is that, even though they’re still in use and they’re still viable, the guys who made the original parts 20 or 30 years ago aren’t around anymore. And the technical data packages are nowhere to be found.”
ATI is part of the American Metalcasting Consortium, an international research and development group that develops and implements solutions for manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, maritime, metals and health care industries.
ATI collaborates with other organizations in the consortium to attract world-class talent from premier companies, universities and government agencies to define and improve technology for DOD projects such as the metalcasting.
White noted that as one of the key members of the DOD logistics community that enables the consortium to solve the supply chain challenges, particularly when it comes to outdated and hard-to-procure cast parts, ATI brings to the table practical business expertise that results in economic and social benefits such as safety, affordability, manufacturing competitiveness, environmental protection and energy conservation.
“We’re helping the Defense Logistics Agency obtain castings quicker in order to keep the weapons systems moving. And we’re getting them not only in quicker fashion, but with higher quality materials,” said White. “Ultimately, we’re helping maintain the supply chain for the Department of Defense. It’s a critical mission.”
Besides the program of procuring outdated parts, ATI also serves in a role of increasing efficiencies in the production process. White pointed to the case of how ATI helped improve one of the most essential vehicles used in war: the tank.
“Tanks run on a tank track that goes round and round, and the tank tracks have ‘heat sinks’ covered by rubber, like tires. The rubber gets hot, but the sinks are there to keep them from getting too hot,” White said. “One of the research projects we worked on helped foundries produce those tank tracks with longer-lasting dies and to make the dies in 25 percent of the time that it took the make the old ones.
“So we were able to make the tank tracks last longer and ultimately the tank could be used longer. It’s just one way we’re able to help make sure the warfighter is protected.”
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