SPEE3D named a winner of US defense manufacturing ‘Point of Need Challenge’ programme
May 18, 2023
SPEE3D, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, has been named a winner of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology (OSD ManTech) ‘Point of Need Challenge’ for solutions to support forward-deployed forces in austere environments. The programme will invest almost $2.5 million, with industry partners contributing $700,000 in cost share.
SPEE3D will showcase its patented Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM) technology and its ability to operate in sub-freezing environments, whilst maintaining the quality of the parts printed, on the same technology, in a shop or lab environment. This live exercise will occur later this year at the Army’s Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire, US.
“Given our proven track record of working with the military in very hot and dry environments, we look forward to demonstrating our expeditionary manufacturing and repair capabilities in sub-freezing conditions,” said Byron Kennedy, CEO of SPEE3D. “We are honoured to work with the OSD to showcase our patented Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing technology.”
Applications were accepted from over 60 organisations, with just 11 teams making the final round. This round required a live presentation at the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. The event showcased technologies generated by member companies of the Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs). Invited finalists were evaluated by a panel of 13 judges from the Military Services, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Defense Innovation Unit, OSD ManTech, and Joint Staff.
A total of six projects from five MIIs were selected for approval. The projects covered three challenges: the Warfighter Medical, Health, and Nutrition Challenge; the Staying in the Fight Challenge; and the Cyber Challenge. SPEE3D entered the Staying in the Fight Challenge and partnered with LIFT as their contracted MII. LIFT is a registered DoD MII headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, US, overseen by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
Download Metal AM magazine
