MHI Hosts Expeditionary Sustainment and Repair (ESAR) Workshop to demonstrate and evaluate products and services that expand the U.S. Navy’s ability to perform expeditionary maintenance operations

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

02.09.2024

Story by Ben Ellis 

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) 05T1 demonstrated technologies at the Expeditionary Sustainment and Repair (ESAR) Workshop hosted by MHI Ship Repair & Services in Norfolk, Virginia, January 30 to February 1, 2024. The workshop included 38 companies with over 300 attendees from the US Navy, Army, Coast Guard, other US Government organizations, industry partners, and academia. The workshop is a follow-on Repair Technology Exercise (REPTX) started in 2022 with two 2023 events, REPTX Distance Support in March and REPTX Visualization Workshop in September.

The 3-day technology demonstration event included mobile induction heaters, additive manufacturing, portable machining, ultra-high temperature fasteners, bolting technology, fluid flushing, shipboard cable repair, surface preparation using lasers and chemicals, safety equipment, adhesive solutions, micro-miniature repairs, portable power generation, and portable network systems. The companies were challenged with repair scenarios that forced many of the companies to work with one another providing a combined solution. One example is the repair of a valve that pressure tested up to 400 psi after being repaired.

“Combining technologies creates capabilities”, one attendee stated. The partnership between MHI, IS4S, Rapidia, Orbis, and MARMC enabled the replacement valve at the event. The old valve was disassembled, valve body printed at the event, heat treated, machined, and final assembled of the old and new parts demonstrated a sustainment technology process in alignment with the initial request for demonstration.

NAVSEA 05T1 worked with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), Montana State University’s MilTech, Partnership Intermediary, and the Kostas Research Institute at Northeastern University to research and find technologies that provide portable repair solutions. Demonstrations were presented by 3M Company, Advanced Ceramic Fibers, Anywise America / Titomic, Atmospheric Plasma Solutions, Clarus Fluid Intelligence, Direct Dimensions, Dust Identity, Electronics Service, Enduralock, Enfasco / Click Bond, ENRX Corporation, Fairlead, FiberQA, FireIce Solutions, Flora Coating, G.C. Laser Systems Inc, GasTOPS Inc, Hytorc, HyVal Industries, KITCO Fiber Optics, kSARIA Service Corporation, Laser Photonics, Layher / Tarp Innovators, Mactech, Nabors Energy Transition Solutions, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport, nScrypt, Inc. / Sciperio, Ombra, Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, Rapidia Tech Inc, RPB Safety, Solarcore, SPEE3D, Sunrez Corp, TDA Research, Turn Around Factor, and VRC Metal Systems. Our host, MHI, helped plan and safely execute the event.

MHI’s facilities enabled multiple indoor and several outdoor locations for the demonstrations. Companies were given 1-hour blocks for demonstration and utilized the remainder of their time time to solve repair problems while collaborating with other companies for holistic solutions. MHI’s staff and shops provided exceptional planning and enabled repair solutions. The event was led by Dan Stanley, NAVSEA 05T1 NESAR Lead. Seventeen of the companies are being further researched for procurement or possible service provider to the NAVSEA team. Some of those companies will be invited to a Fleet Exercise.

The NAVSEA 05T REPTX events continue to identify technologies that will improve our Fleet’s sustainment and improve readiness. A representative from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard stated “it was great to connect with your organization and observe new technologies.” The NESAR team is committed to supporting several events this year and have started planning of the 2025 REPTX, tentatively set for March-May 2025.

• Date Taken: 02.09.2024
• Date Posted: 02.14.2024 14:01
• Story ID: 463620
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US