Loc Performance Products, Inc. Awarded Phase II SBIR Contract

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan-based Loc Performance Products, Inc. has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to continue modernization of the mobility system for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

The SBIR program is highly competitive, and encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has a strong potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based process, the SBIR program enables small businesses to leverage their technological capabilities and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.

During initial SBIR Phase I research, Loc developed and evaluated three potential approaches for a future drive design. These were evaluated through a trade study process to arrive at a recommended design approach that best balances cost, weight, and performance for the future drive.  The resultant drive approach results in a drive solution that meets future Bradley Fighting Vehicle requirements and also provides a means for quick disconnect from the transmission for towing and simplification of powerpack maintenance.

During Phase II, Loc will continue development and testing of its recommended Phase I technical approach that increases the drive's torque capacity and adds the driveline disconnect feature. Loc offers gear technology that provides 100% more torque than today's design, lowers energy losses by 20%, maintains the existing vehicle interfaces, and provides the vehicle platform with margin for future growth.  The quick disconnect technology allows the driver to engage and disengage the driveline from within the armor protection of the vehicle, and is available for insertion on today's final drive or as an integrated solution to a new and improved final drive.

Lou Burr, President of Loc Performance Products commented, "Our entire team is proud to be recognized for the hard work and effort required in achieving this award. Loc's goal is to leverage the resources provided by the SBIR program, with our twenty-one years of experience providing thousands of high value Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M1, M88, M9 ACE, and AAV vehicle final drives. The combined design and production work will not only engineer innovative capability improvements that meet the diverse requirements of the United States military, but ultimately save millions of dollars by lowering production costs and increasing the mileage between major overhauls."

The resources provided through the SBIR program will allow Loc to improve not only the design, development, and manufacturing process for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, but also allow for incorporation into similar platforms for additional technological advancement and cost savings. Chad Darr, Director of Product Development explains, "The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is not the only fielded military platform that has experienced significant weight growth and seeks a higher torque capable final drive as a drop-in replacement.  Virtually all the ground platforms that were utilized in Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced weight growth due to add-on survivability improvements. Loc's technology developed under the SBIR program is transferable for cost effective driveline upgrades on these military platforms including the HMMWV geared wheel hub, the M1 Abrams final drive, and the AAV final drive. The technology is also transferable to new vehicle programs like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) programs where weight and space claim optimization are desirable and necessary attributes."

Loc Performance Products is Michigan's premier full service manufacturer of large CNC machined components and assemblies for military and industrial applications.

For additional information on Loc Performance Products, please contact (734) 453-2300 or visit: www.locperformance.com

SOURCE Loc Performance Products, Inc.