Defense Bill Includes Additive Manufacturing

The upcoming U.S. Department of Defense Authorization Bill includes requirements for the Secretary of Defense to brief the House Committee on Armed Services on its plans for additive manufacturing.

Representative Elise Stefanik at the Norsk facility. Image: Norsk Titanium

The language was included in the bill by representative Elise Stefanik (R-New York), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and chair of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee. The bill passed the House in July.

Stefanik’s district includes the Plattsburgh facility of Norway-based Norsk Titanium, and she announced the AM portion of the bill while touring the Norsk facility in July.

“The state of New York is providing a game-changing opportunity, an opportunity that America and more specifically the Department of Defense can take advantage of,” said Norsk CEO and president Warren Boley, Jr.

“Our district continues to grow as a home to many companies that work with cutting edge technology, and I was pleased to include this language that will benefit the Department of Defense and these manufacturers,” Stefanik said.

The additive manufacturing briefing is to take place no later than Dec. 1 and will include information on the department’s plans to develop military and quality assurance standards; how the department will leverage current manufacturing organizations to research and validate quality standards for additive manufactured parts; and plans to further integrate the technology into the department’s depots, arsenals and shipyards.

Norsk’s printing products use Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology that combines titanium wire and plasma torches to print structural components. The company plans to expand its Plattsburgh operations by 60%, which would add 400 jobs by 2019.

Over the summer, Norsk delivered its first FAA-certified 3D printed parts for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and announced an aerospace partnership with Spirit AeroSystems. The company also tested components for spaceflight in conjunction with Thales Alenia Space.

Source: Elise Stefanik

About the Author

Brian Albright

Brian Albright is the editorial director of Digital Engineering and a contributor to Robotics 24/7.

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