Plattsburgh, NY – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) toured Norsk Titanium to review progress and expansion plans. She also met with staff and discussed language she added to the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that increases the potential opportunities for additive manufacturing companies in NY-21, like Norsk, to do business with the Department of Defense.
"This visit was an important opportunity to see the amazing work being done by Norsk Titanium in Plattsburgh," said Congresswoman Stefanik. "Plattsburgh continues to emerge as a major manufacturing and economic hub from our region, and Norsk is an excellent example of a cutting edge firm expanding their business and creating good paying jobs for North Country families.
“In Congress, I was pleased to recently work on a legislative initiative that will help 3-D printing firms like Norsk, and I will continue my work to further develop a work force that can meet the needs of our high-tech employers. I thank President Warren Boley and all Norsk employees for the tour today."
Congresswoman Stefanik had language added to the NDAA that recognizes new technological capabilities that revolutionize the industrial supply chain. The ability to utilize new materials in new ways, such as titanium, has the potential to transform how the Department does business. This report language creates the potential for increased opportunities for companies within NY-21 who perform additive manufacturing or 3-D printing.
“Our district continues to grow as a home to many companies that work with cutting edge technology, and I was pleased to include this language that will benefit the Department of Defense and these manufacturers,” added Stefanik.
Background:
This is the language Rep. Stefanik submitted in the FY2018 NDAA that passed the House Armed Services Committee:
The committee is aware of the significant possibilities that additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, will provide to the Department of Defense, both in revolutionizing the industrial supply chain, as well as in providing radically new technological capabilities. The ability to utilize new materials in new ways, such as titanium or explosives, or to develop new manufacturing processes, has the potential to transform how the Department does business. The establishment of new Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, as well as the growing prevalence of 3-D printers at tactical levels, indicates the Department sees that potential as well. Additive manufacturing could also greatly improve the organic industrial base’s ability to respond to demands that original equipment manufacturers are unable to meet or to fabricate obsolete parts that are no-longer manufactured.
The committee understands that an inhibitor to seeing the full potential of this technology will be the need to do quality assurance and validation of additive manufactured parts, especially for those in flight or safety-critical systems. Until the Department can develop the standards and processes for assuring quality, 3-D printing will be limited in its application. Also, substantial room remains across the force to add more capacity for this capability, both to repair out-of-date equipment and to speed repair in order to meet urgent operational requirements.
Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 2017, on the Department’s plans to develop and improve additive manufacturing.
The briefing shall include the Department’s plans to: develop military and quality assurance standards as quickly as possible; leverage current manufacturing institutes to conduct research in the validation of quality standards for additive manufactured parts; and further integrate additive manufacturing capabilities and capacity into the Department's organic depots, arsenals, and shipyards.
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