Louisville, August 23, 2002--U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and University of Kentucky President Dr. Lee Todd visited the McConnell Technology & Training Center on Thursday, August 22, 2002.  The visit was an opportunity for MTTC staff to update Senator McConnell on MTTC’s progress and accomplishments.

During their visit, Senator McConnell and Dr. Todd were able to see the dynamic progress of MTTC’s Fleet Maintenance Reduction Program, which has recently added three new testing and evaluation projects to the 27 other projects that are already underway or completed.  The MTTC Fleet Maintenance Reduction Program (FMRP) has saved the U.S. Navy approximately $53 million per year.  Over a fifteen-year maintenance cycle, the Navy estimates that the FMR program will be responsible for savings of more than $850 million. 

Dick Gilbert, Technical Director for the FMR Program, told the Senator McConnell and UK President Todd “There is just no limit to what we may be able to do within this program."

Dick Gilbert, Technical Director for the FMR Program, told the visitors “There is just no limit to what we may be able to do within this program.  Any maintenance problem, safety issue or operational headache that the Navy faces is something where we can look and hopefully provide a working, cost-effective solution.  I fully anticipate that we will hit the $1 billion mark [savings to the Navy over a 15-year maintenance cycle] with these next few projects.”

Gilbert also updated Senator McConnell and Dr. Todd on a testing project to evaluate the composition and effectiveness of using aluminum mesh in the fuel tanks of Navy equipment.  (see related story at Aluminum Mesh Prevents Explosions in Gasoline Tanks )  “These little aluminum mesh balls have the potential to make things much safer for sailors on ships.  Anytime you have gasoline in tanks on board a ship, the potential for explosion is huge.  Gasoline vapor is dangerous stuff.  But if these aluminum mesh balls test out ok, we may be able to offer the Navy a working solution to the potential for explosion.”

Senator McConnell received an update about the National Surface Treatment Center (NST Center) from Rich Parks

McConnell and Todd also received an update from Paul Gossen and Rich Parks from the National Surface Treatment Center (NST Center).  “Our website, which serves as an information portal for the U.S. Navy and for the coatings industry, has received over 88,000 hits since the site was rolled out during the first week of July,” commented Gossen, Project Leader for the NST Center.

Gossen and Parks explained the NST Center’s four main “thrust areas,” including “Technology Solutions,” which is where the new partnership between the NST Center and the University of Kentucky falls.

“The partnership between the NST Center and the University of Kentucky has allowed us to put together the best team to evaluate and find a solution for the Navy’s problem of premature corrosion in ‘tanks and voids’ due to incorrect or insufficient coatings applied to the insides of these areas,” explained Parks.  “We are evaluating whether it’s possible to add a fluorescent pigment to the primer that is applied to the insides of the tanks and voids, which would then allow the paint applicators to use a special blacklight to visually inspect the coverage of both the primer and the topcoat.”

During their visit, Senator McConnell and Dr. Todd were also treated to demonstrations of other on-going tests and evaluations, including a Laser Rangefinder together with a billboard-type display, which could be used to determine and monitor the exact distance between Navy ships during underway refueling and resupply.  The two visitors were also able to see a demonstration of the EX-45, which integrates two 14-inch Lynx design Bodine e-Torq motors, along with encoders and the current gun mount to produce a test system which is currently being evaluated by the Navy. 

Dr. Todd and Senator McConnell also received an explanation of the self-cleaning strainer manufactured by Spencer Machine & Tool Co. of Jeffersonville, IN, which is currently undergoing operational testing on USS DULUTH (LPD-6) in San Diego.  If these tests are satisfactory, MTTC will assist Spencer Machine & Tool in conducting shock, vibration and other testing that will enable the strainer to be qualified for Navy Fleet use.

Spencer Machine & Tool Co. of Jeffersonville, IN, demonstrated a self-cleaning strainer. MTTC will assist Spencer Machine & Tool in conducting shock, vibration and other testing that will enable the strainer to be qualified for Navy Fleet use.

Near the end of his visit, Senator McConnell thanked the entire MTTC staff for their hard work and efforts in all areas.  “I am amazed and impressed by how much this organization has been able to accomplish in so short a time.  Your support of our armed forces and our community are to be commended,” stated McConnell.