Montana Titanium and Lightweight Material Production Advanced Workshop
The Montana Titanium and Lightweight Material Production Advanced Manufacturing Workshop has been rescheduled for March 24 and 25, 2013. Here is an overview on a National/Federal perspective. This can be used for the article.
Objectives: (1) Observe lightweight metals technology over the complete lifecycle; from ore extraction, to electrolytic reduction to finished cast product. Review the titanium-related DPA Title III project and engage in focused discussions on titanium affordability and manufacturing technology; (3) Review and discuss other regionally based lightweight materials; (2) Receive briefings and tours of manufacturing technology initiatives of interest to DOD, including ongoing work and capabilities of MilTech, the Montana Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the CAMP- ONR Fuel Cell Manufacturing Manhattan project, and Photonics research at Montana State University; (3) Review regional ongoing STEM efforts and other activities that could inform a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI); and (4) Explore the viability of a regional NNMI cluster related to lightweight metal structures.
Background: ARDEC and OSD ManTech support a number of titanium and lightweight metal programs, including the Titanium Extraction, Mining and Process Engineering Research (TEMPER) Project supported by Universal Technical Resources Services, Inc. (UTRS) – Butte, Montana. MilTech specializes in transitioning DoD-developed technologies to the industrial base and the warfighter.
In his capacity of JDMTP sub-panel chair for metals, Steve Luckowski (ARDEC) has perspective on many DoD investments (DARPA, ManTech, Title III) in this area and will present his perspective on this investment portfolio and the opportunity for transitioning these technologies through Title III or other commercialization approaches, such as those at the state level or through a partnership intermediary.
Adele Ratcliff is the OSD Director of Manufacturing Technology and manages the Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program. She is also the lead DOD representative to the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, which is spearheading further investment in Innovative Manufacturing Institutes. Her office was responsible for standing up the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, going from Broad Agency Announcement to award in four months.
The Center for Advanced Mineral Processing (CAMP) is a national asset in fundamental metals extraction technology. Cost and availability of lightweight metals, such as titanium, aluminum, and magnesium are drive by ore and extraction costs. Additional factors such as domestic supply of ore and operation of extraction processes can also impact DOD as a customer. The increased use of lightweight material in DOD, as well as the impact of DOE thrust in automotive light-weighting will demand technology investment over the entire lightweight metals lifecycle. This workshop is intended to focus on Montana capabilities in research and advanced manufacturing. Montana based companies in titanium research and manufacturing who plan to participate include:
• Mil Tech – To include Montana State University’s Techlink program and the Montana MEP
• UTRS – Universal Technical Resources Services, Inc. – Butte, Montana Titanium Division – Titanium Extraction, Mining and Process Engineering Research (TEMPER)
• SeaCast – Titanium casting and manufacturing in Butte, Montana
• The Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP) at Montana Tech
• The Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department faculty and research students
• NEMO Firearms, Kalispell, MT, Manufacturer of first 100% Titanium AR1
The selection of Montana Tech for the venue of this workshop is related directly to Montana Tech/CAMP’s performance during the Manhattan Project for Fuel Cell Manufacturing during FY11 and FY12 and involvement and experience with DoD manufacturing projects (i.e., Titanium Free Form, Fuel Cells, and Critical Elements/Metals Manufacturing).
John Christensen (Advisor to the Adele Ratcliff - Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (ATL)) requested that Montana Tech/CAMP organize a workshop to focus on: titanium and other materials-related manufacturing technology that have emerged from DoD or defense industry investment and related to the Montana region.
John Christensen met with Jay McCloskey and Randy Hiebert (Director and Senior Projects Engineer of The Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP) at Montana Tech) on December 20, 2012 to discuss the potential for Montana Tech/CAMP to host the: Montana Titanium and Lightweight Material Production Advanced Manufacturing Workshop
This opportunity is in response to a request from Steve Luckowski (U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) and current JDMTP Metals sub-panel chair to organize this workshop. Steve Luckowski is and has been the Department of Defense (DoD) program manager for a portfolio of titanium-related technologies over the last 15 years and has been the ARDEC point of contact for Montana Tech/CAMP’s three FY13 proposed Federal Projects.
