3M strengthens its commitment to military market with attendance at DSEi
The Transportation division of 3M, the diversified technology company, will be exhibiting at DSEi on 11-14 September. For the first time, the company is exhibiting at the show to highlight the increasing number of ways 3M products are being used to improve the production and operation of military vehicles.'Military vehicles and systems today are performing substantially different roles compared with just a few years ago. They must provide greater operational flexibility, durability in very tough conditions and all within modern military budgets.' Says Andy Marks, Technical Specialist at 3M. 'Innovative, yet reliable technologies will become increasingly important, which is exactly what 3M delivers.' 3M produces a series of practical and ingenious solutions that can help to produce and re-role vehicles to better operate in the challenging environments in which the UK military has to operate. The company will be demonstrating three key defence technologies at the show, for use across the tri-services' fleets. Protective tapes 3M's range of polyurethane protective tapes and boots are already becoming widely used on rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, providing abrasion resistance and helping keep aircraft in service longer. Less downtime means better aircraft availability for the essential support roles they play. Nuclear-approved adhesive tapes 3M's nuclear-grade duct tape for use in submarine construction is tested and certified to confirm extremely low levels of halides in the adhesive, to minimise the risk of inducing corrosion in safety critical areas. Advanced adhesives 7246-2 FST structural adhesive is believed to be the first such product to be approved for use below deck on Royal Navy vessels. The two-part epoxy was originally developed for the aerospace market and its name confirms its use will not interfere with compliance with fire, smoke and toxicity regulations. Its approval by the Institute of Naval Medicine allows its use in vessels for both construction and repair. Between them, these technologies provide substantial production and in-service benefits, helping speed vehicles to the front line and improve their performance in-theatre. 'As in any industry, these solutions have come about through 3M's commitment to finding solutions to the problems of our customers', says Marks. 3M will also be demonstrating its offerings for rotary wing aircraft on stand 1716 of the Helitech 07 exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, near Cambridge on 2 – 4 October. |
