May 22, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Saline, MI, May 22 – The MMI ES Engineered Components Group worked with a U.S. Army truck manufacturer to find way to allow more cargo on their Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). MMI ES delivered the solution by converting a steel tailgate to an ultra high strength nano-filled composite.

“It’s a pretty easy equation,” stated Michael Rosser, Director of Client Development for the MMI-ES Components Group. “The lighter you can make a vehicle, without sacrificing protection and strength, the more cargo you can carry. We were called by the U.S. Army to make their main transport vehicle lighter because of our track record of success in the applications of composites and our expertise in materials.”

MMI-ES identified a series of heavy panels, constructed from steel, around the bed of the cargo vehicle that proved good candidates for conversion.

“One of our most interesting engineering hurdles we faced in this challenge was not the fact we had to have a composite to maintain the strength of steel; it wasn’t even the fact we had to design and manufacture a tool capable of multiple sized parts and eliminate all secondary operations. At the end of the day, we had to create a composite that could do all that and withstand Antarctica’s worst conditions at - 60° F,” stated Tom Elkington, MMI ES’s Chief Technology Officer.

Although no composites meeting the criteria were readily available, MMI ES was able to design and test advanced materials that would meet or exceed specifications through strategic alliance partnerships with major research Universities and resin manufacturers.

With the use of their state-of-the-art equipment in Saline, Michigan, MMI ES was able to provide the U.S. Army with a certified manufacturing process that would repeatedly produce parts that were 50% lighter, therefore allowing 400 lbs of added cargo to the FMTV and reducing the new part cost by 40%.
 
FMTV Tailgate/Dropside Panel from MMI ES

About MMI ES

MMI Engineered Solutions (MMI ES) is a global leader in designing and manufacturing solutions that improve performance, reduce weight and lower costs in OEM components and material handling applications. A project-oriented materials and engineering resource, MMI ES focuses on the design, tooling and molding of solutions using advanced composites and engineered resins. The MMI ES world-class engineering lab and manufacturing facility in Saline, MI supports OEM product design and manufacturing engineers in diverse industries that include transportation, defense, food processing, alternative energy and medical devices.

Contact:
Dustin Ondovcsik
734-459-5955
dondovcsik@mmi-es.com