TUSTIN, Calif., Apr 04, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- MillenWorks, a strategic business of Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and in partnership with LORD Corporation, announced today that the magneto-rheologic (MR) Suspension system for the Stryker® platform has successfully completed the 4,000-mile endurance milestone.
The 4,000-mile test, completed in less than four weeks by the U.S. Government, was achieved on the Stryker Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV) and, through MillenWorks' common design approach, has applicability to all variants of the Stryker platform. Previous performance testing has been successfully completed with the suspension system integrated into the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS).
MillenWorks, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), developed the innovative suspension as part of a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project. MillenWorks served as the system designer and integrator on the project, using MR damper technology from LORD Corporation. The research and development funding for the SBIR project came though a Technology Transition Initiative (TTI) award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
"The Stryker MR Suspension system completed the 4,000-mile endurance milestone with flying colors," said MillenWorks Director of Suspension Systems Peter LeNoach. "We had no system problems and were able to achieve the milestone in a remarkably short period of time."
"We have had several very successful performance tests with this technology as an upgrade path for the Stryker suspension system", said MillenWorks General Manager Larry Jepson. "This endurance test represents our next developmental milestone as we mature this system to offer a significant increase in the mobility capability of current and future Stryker variants."
About MillenWorks
MillenWorks, a strategic business of Textron Marine & Land Systems, thrives on solving seemingly insurmountable technical challenges, MillenWorks designs and develops complete vehicles and advanced mobility solutions for various customers in the automotive, theme park and aerospace industries and is constantly exploring new advancements in materials, structures, electronics, actuators, control theory, modeling and simulation, and manufacturing techniques. More information is available at www.millenworks.com.
About Textron Marine & Land Systems
Textron Marine & Land Systems specializes in the design, production and support of advanced marine craft, armored combat vehicles, turrets and related subsystems. Through its MillenWorks strategic business, Textron Marine & Land Systems designs and develops advanced mobility solutions for demanding on- and off-road applications. Textron Marine & Land Systems serves military and commercial customers domestically and internationally, and is an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company. More information is available at www.textronmarineandland.com.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment services, Textron Systems includes AAI Corporation, Lycoming Engines, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. Textron Systems Corporation is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
About LORD Corporation, MR Solutions
LORD MR technology is based on proprietary and patented fluid, damper, mount, brake and clutch designs and sophisticated computer control algorithms. When exposed to a magnetic field, MR materials change state nearly instantaneously and with complete reversibility. As a result, MR technology provides fast and infinitely variable control of energy dissipation for industrial and automotive devices. The technology enables engineers to design a wide range of devices and systems with far greater flexibility than before possible. The result is improved performance, reduced part count and complexity, smaller package size and less weight. As the only provider of commercial MR fluids with more than 110 MR fluid, device, and controller algorithm patents worldwide, LORD is the largest manufacturer of MR devices and systems. For information about LORD MR applications, visit www.lord.com/mr.
About LORD Corporation
With headquarters in Cary, N.C., USA, and sales in excess of $700-MM, LORD Corporation is a privately-held company that designs, manufactures and markets devices and systems to manage mechanical motion and control noise and vibration; formulates, produces and sells general purpose and specialty adhesives and coatings; and develops products and systems utilizing magnetically responsive technologies. With manufacturing in nine countries and offices in more than 15 major business centers, LORD Corporation employs more than 2,600 worldwide. Visit www.lord.com for more information.
Stryker is a registered trademark of the U.S. Army.
SOURCE: Textron Inc.
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