OPM Receives Contract from Northrop Grumman Corporation to Enable Usage of 3D-Printed Parts
South Windsor, CT (PRWEB) July 29, 2013 -- Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) is very pleased to announce that it has received a contract from Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC) for the development of its OXPEKK® polymer for use in aerospace applications. OPM shall undertake the production of test specimens and prototype components that will allow for the establishment of a structural design database. Such a database is a necessary requirement for the design of aerospace and other critical structures.
"We have been developing PEKK materials and advanced manufacturing processes for over ten years. We have also established a world-class biomedical 3D printing facility and sell these products commercially worldwide. We are therefore very pleased that our in-depth knowledge of PEKK and the 3D printing (High Temperature Laser Sintering –HTLS) process has been recognized and we have been selected to undertake this critical development," said Scott Defelice, President and CEO of OPM. "OPM has a very clear focus on 3D printing of Mission-Critical parts where there is no room for error, such as in aerospace and medical applications."
To support this contract and increasing commercial demand for the technology, OPM has purchased an additional EOSINT P800 HTLS machine, which will be the second P800 operated by OPM. “OPM has selected the EOSINT P800 because it is today the most advanced equipment to support our business,” DeFelice explained. The new machine will be installed at the firm’s ISO 9001:2008/AS9100 South Windsor location and will allow OPM to establish a robust supply chain for Mission-Critical 3D printing.
The NGSC award has been initiated by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII), the advanced manufacturing initiative announced by President Obama in 2012 to promote the growth of additive manufacturing technologies.
About OPM
OPM operates at the intersection of high performance polymers, additive manufacturing technologies, and the creation of structures for the biomedical and aerospace sectors. The firm currently has four operating divisions: Biomedical Devices and Parts, Biomedical Raw Materials, Industrial Parts, and Metrology Sciences. OPM was selected to participate in the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) in 2012. OPM has obtained ISO 13485:2003 and ISO 9001:2008/AS9100C certificates and received FDA clearance in February 2013 for the OsteoFab™ Patient Specific Cranial Device.
For more information, please visit http://www.oxfordpm.com.
About NGSC
In sea, land, air and space, Northrop Grumman is the recognized leader in unmanned systems. The depth and breadth of our platforms and technologies portfolio provide customers with a wide range of capabilities. Unmanned systems operate in areas where manned vehicles cannot, allow for prolonged missions and help reduce risk to both national security and human lives.
For more information, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com.
About NAMII
NAMII is a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, and workforce development resources all collaborating with a singular, shared vision to transition additive manufacturing technology to the mainstream U.S. manufacturing sector. NAMII is the pilot institute for up to 15 National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) institutes and is based in Youngstown, Ohio. NAMII is managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).
For additional information, visit http://www.namii.org.
Scott DeFelice, Oxford Performance Materials, http://www.oxfordpm.com, (860) 698-9300, [email protected]
Share this article