BATTELLE'S DUBLIN PRODUCTION FACILITY SEES MILESTONE IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTION

Shipment of specially manufactured military electronics marks steady growth of innovative production capabilities

 

Dublin, OH—Battelle boosted its growing manufacturing output this week with the shipment of key electronics for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. These units are only the most recent in a succession of advanced electronic devices manufactured at the Blazer Parkway facility. Work proceeds at this production facility even as building construction and expansion strives to keep up with the burgeoning orders for advanced electronics and scientific instruments.


Among ongoing projects at the facility, Battelle produces the Pilot Display Unit (PDU) and the Central Display Unit (CDU), which are visual indicators used in Black Hawk helicopters to monitor parameters including fuel pressure, engine oil, rotor speed and torque.


This work is part of a series of Continuous Technology Refreshment (CTR) programs supported by Battelle.  The CTR programs are designed to adapt a new product to be a fit, form, and function replacement for legacy technology while reducing the overall cost of ownership for the client.

 

Much of the work performed at Battelle’s Dublin manufacturing facility has been in support of the CTR program, which is designed to extend the life of costly military aircraft by updating certain essential features with new technology. Battelle manufactured and produced more than 1,800 Caution Advisory Panels for the program and has built on the success of that program to win more contracts. The increased business volume has led to the need to expand the Dublin facility to increase capacity.

The skilled workforce at the facility is well-equipped to handle the work, said Raj Harricharran, Production and Field Support manager for Battelle. “We’ve grown from about 25 people in 2004 to the current 70 staff who work in positions such as manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, design engineers, and manufacturing and quality technicians,” he said.


The first production run of forty CDUs and forty PDUs was shipped to the client over the past week.  This is part of an overall contract to produce and deliver more than 956 CDUs and PDUs during the next year.

 

Battelle started work on the prototype units in late 2006 with the first article shipping out in early 2008, said Production Manager Scott Brown. During this time the units underwent an extensive series of tests including Environmental, Electromagnetic Compatibility and flight testing on the aircraft. Due to the amount of testing required to ensure overall system performance, there is a time lag from first article delivery until the units are approved for production. “It’s rewarding for our staff and all those involved  to see a product we initially built over a year ago has been qualified allowing us to move into production and deliver a good quality product to our customers,” Brown said.


In addition to the display units recently shipped, and the Caution Advisory Panel, other products manufactured at Blazer Parkway include:

  • Detection systems: Battelle produces components for a hazard detection system used by the government.
  • The Battelle Seaology™ pCO2 Monitoring System: An autonomous analytical instrument that collects data on ocean acidification and climate change. The instrument was designed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, enhanced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is now manufactured by Battelle for commercial sale.
  • Chemical Vapor Sampling System: A chemical collection device developed in conjunction with staff at the Battelle Eastern Science and Technology Center in Aberdeen Maryland.
  • Medical Devices: Recent preparation to comply with the Food and Drug Administration regulations, and other regulatory bodies, has cleared the way for Battelle to begin medical device manufacturing which is part of the expansion plan.

As the world’s largest, independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses:  Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences.  It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $5.6 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. 

 

Media contacts:

Katy Delaney, (614) 424-7208, or at delaneyk@battelle.org

T.R. Massey, (614) 424-5544, or at masseytr@battelle.org.