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Penn State Project Finds REM ISF® Process Beneficial to US Navy
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June 29, 2007
SOUTHINGTON, Conn June 29, 2007- Researchers at Penn State’s ARL Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies (iMAST) have concluded that REM’s Isotropic Superfinish Process (ISF®) can successfully be used to repair Navy Fleet Readiness Centers’ damaged gears. Currently, the Navy is forced to scrap large quantities of gears during helicopter transmission overhauls, costing an additional $3 million dollars annually. Fortunately, iMAST concluded that, “Removal of the surface damage on these gears, however using the ISF Process, has shown that the number of actual gears being scrapped can be significantly reduced.”
According to Mark Michaud, President of REM, “The Navy is exploring ways to incorporate the ISF Process at its Cherry Point repair facility to refurbish these critical gears that are in such short supply.” He went on to say that, “In the near future, I hope to be able to report a significant cost savings and increase in helicopter fleet operational readiness through their use of ISF.”
Penn State researchers also noted that the performance of the ISF finished gears was found to be, “very promising.” The repaired gears performed as well as new gears, and according to Penn State’s Drivetrain Technology Center, “in many instances the performance of the repaired gears was slightly better.” This increased performance was attributed to the improved surface finish that results from REM’s ISF Process. Representatives from the U.S. Army, NAVAIR, and Boeing attended the presentation of iMAST’s findings.
REM, the inventor of the patented ISF Process, is a global supplier of surface engineering products and services.
