May 15 2010
Concurrent Technologies has demonstrated an eco-friendly coating removal system for aircrafts and its efforts in developing the system at a press conference. The demonstration was done to remove paint coatings from an aircraft of the U.S. Air Force.
To minimize the impact of the conventional depainting methods on environment as well as to increase the availability of aircraft, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) assigned the company to design and demonstrate a laser coating removal system with robotic features. This depainting contract is the first order for the company under the five-year IDIQ contract awarded by AFRL.
The company had demonstrated the new technology successfully, following which the coating removal system will be moved to and put in use in Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC). For this program, representatives from the Environment and Energy Program Office of AFRL and the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group Engineering Division of OO-ALC have joined together as a team. The robotic laser system can be used on aircrafts of various sizes such as fighter, tanker and cargo aircrafts.
The new robotic laser coating removal system, which is under development, will comprise a scanner, particle capture system and a commercial laser source. These components will be integrated with surface monitoring sensors and mounted to a mobile robotic base. At present, Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute National Robotics Engineering Center is designing the autonomous robot base, while the performance of the laser source is being tested at the company.
The robotic laser system offers many advantages such as the reduction of paint stripping chemicals, air emissions, masking materials, plastic media, hazardous waste, maintenance costs and usage of personal protective equipment.
The President and CEO of Concurrent Technologies, Edward J. Sheehan said that the project will make use of advanced laser technology, robotic manipulation and process control to offer a high-quality depainting system. This will provide innovation to the U.S. Air Force as well as DoD via the deployment of eco-friendly paint removal systems. He further expressed that he is pleased about conducting the testing of the innovative technology in their facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Source: http://www.ctc.com/