Nikon AM awarded DoD contract to reduce supply bottlenecks
Nikon AM Synergy Inc, the engineering and manufacturing services division of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing based in Long Beach, California, USA, has been awarded an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) contract by the US Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The contract is part of the Foundry for Operational Readiness and Global Effects (FORGE) programme and is intended to increase production capacity and reduce supply bottlenecks for aeronautical components used by the US government.
The DIU connects US military organisations addressing national security and operational challenges with advanced technology companies to identify, prototype, and transition new solutions for defence applications. Through the FORGE programme, the DoD is seeking technologies capable of increasing production capacity and removing manufacturing bottlenecks for metal components used in high-performance aeronautical systems.
Many of these components have traditionally been produced using metal casting processes. The FORGE initiative is therefore evaluating advanced manufacturing approaches capable of enabling higher-rate production while meeting government requirements for survivability, reliability and affordability.
Article: Inside Nikon’s metal AM strategy
Part 2: Scaling industrial production in Long Beach
| Read now |
The programme will be conducted at the Nikon AM Technology Center in Long Beach, California, USA. The facility focuses on metal Additive Manufacturing and supports applications in the naval, defence, aviation and space sectors.
“The DIU is excited to partner with Nikon AM and leverage its extensive engineering, manufacturing and qualification capabilities as we work to expand production capacity and alleviate aeronautical component bottlenecks,” stated Derek McBride, Program Manager at the DIU.
Dr Behrang Poorganji, Vice President of Technology at Nikon AM, added, “Nikon AM is uniquely positioned to support the DIU through Nikon AM Synergy’s comprehensive design and materials qualification capabilities, combined with Nikon SLM Solutions’ laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing systems and Nikon’s advanced inspection technologies, all operating under stringent manufacturing requirements at our Long Beach facility.”
“As we continue to advance our holistic approach to delivering critical manufacturing capabilities to the United States and allied partners, we are proud to support the DIU in accelerating the adoption and scaling of Additive Manufacturing to strengthen warfighter readiness,” Poorganji concluded.
