Air Force Research Laboratory and Concurrent Technologies Corporation Win Society of Automotive Engineers' Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award for Laser Coatings Removal Program

JOHNSTOWN, Pa., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Environment and Energy Program Office (AFRL/RXSC) received the annual Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for designing, validating, and implementing laser coatings removal systems throughout the U.S. Air Force.  The award was presented at the SAE World Congress in Detroit, Michigan.

This world-wide competition consisted of a written nomination and oral presentation to the SAE's Sustainable Development Program Committee.  The E2T Award recognizes significant innovations that minimize environmental impacts associated with the transportation industry.  These achievements may occur in motorized vehicles for land, sea, air, and space in the areas of fuels, alternative propulsion methods, fuel usage, materials, energy usage, manufacturing methods, logistics support, as well as in education, training and improving public awareness.

"Receiving this award is a significant achievement for our team and emphasizes CTC's number one priority of delivering the right solutions for our clients, typically through breakthrough technology applications.  The technology behind the AFRL-led laser coatings removal program is innovative and has placed CTC and AFRL at the forefront of the field since the program's inception in 1999," said Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., CTC's President & Chief Executive Officer.  "Our efforts have been recognized throughout the program's history, starting with the 2005 and 2009 Environmental Security Technology Certification Program Project of the Year Awards and continuing with the 2011 E2T Award.  This latest achievement validates CTC's efforts to lead the way with innovative coatings removal systems, engineering design and installation support that exceeds client expectations."

The Department of Defense (DoD) operates major depot maintenance facilities that perform repair, testing, and remanufacturing operations for weapon systems and support equipment assets used by the U.S. military.  Current coatings removal methods can be cost, time, and labor intensive.  Large quantities of hazardous waste byproducts may be generated resulting in high disposal costs and increased environmental, safety, and health regulatory requirements.  

AFRL/RXSC, along with CTC and its industry partners designed, validated, and implemented laser coatings removal systems to replace certain chemical and abrasive media methods.  As an example, a robotic system implemented at Ogden Air Logistics Center eliminated 36,000 gallons of hazardous waste annually from decoating of F-16 radomes and provided $330,000 in annual cost savings.  This system allowed for faster, more efficient coatings removal operations to be performed, increasing the depots' overall coatings removal capacity.  As this system is approved for larger workloads, the environmental and total cost savings will increase dramatically.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) is an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization providing innovative management and technology-based solutions to government and industry.  As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, CTC's primary purpose and programs are to undertake applied scientific research and development activities that serve the public interest.  For more information, visit www.ctc.com.

SOURCE Concurrent Technologies Corporation