MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS
ARMOR
Innovative solutions for armor processing
LAI offers complete manufacturing solutions for mission-critical defense-related applications and handles contract manufacturing ranging from precision components to multi-tier supply chain management of assemblies. LAI is an approved supplier to the prime defense contractors, including BAE Systems Armament Systems Division, Boeing Integrated Defense System, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and other defense contractors, such as ATK, Cadillac Gage, Naval Research Laboratory, Raytheon Missile Systems, Textron and United Defense. LAI has the capabilities, capacity and expertise to work with large defense-related programs, including military aircraft, ships, vehicles, armor, weaponry systems and launch equipment.
High-speed waterjet cutting and fabrication of armor products
Advanced Cutting and Assembly Services
Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), armored and all-wheel drive.
Waterjet
machining offers unlimited, omni-directional cutting of all
shapes,
and is a superior method of processing armor materials,
compared to thermal cutting methods.
- No heat-affected zone
- Elimination of need for secondary processing of slag
- Superior surface for welding
- Edge finishes as smooth as 125 RMS
- Quick cutting of curves, corners and holes
The LAI Advantage
LAI is an experienced service provider for armor manufacturers:
- Certified supplier to leading armor products companies
- Largest waterjet cutting capacity in the United States
- Four regional U.S. manufacturing facilities
- Among the largest waterjet cutting tables in the United States
- All LAI production facilities certified to ISO 9001:2000 and AS9100
LAI provides complete armor subassemblies:
- In-house fabrication services, including bending, part marking, riveting and hardware installation
- Assembly stations for high-volume production
- Supply chain management of forming, rolling, finish coating, painting and other secondary processes
- Raw material acquisition
- Special packaging and kitting of parts
- Tooling design and development
Armor Products Manufactured
LAI combines its core expertise –- precision cutting –- with secondary processes to provide a large variety of finished subassemblies for its customers.
Vehicle armor
- Armor upgrade kit components
- Ballistic shields
- Close-out panels
- Door assemblies
- Special packaging and kitting of parts
- Full sections of armor plate
Aircraft armor
- Cabin armor components
- Crew seats, five-axis waterjet trimmed
- Floor armor components
Body armor
- Helmets, five-axis waterjet trimmed
- Insert plates, five-axis waterjet trimmed
- Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI)
Armor materials processed
Metal armor
- Aluminum, high-strength alloy plate
- Armor steel plate, high-hard steel
- Cast single plate
- Rolled homogenous armor
- Stainless steel, welded
- Titanium plate
Composites and additional materials
- Applique armor
- Carbon fiber
- Fiberglass
- GPO
- Kevlar
- Phenolic
Armor materials processed
In addition to cutting nested patterns in flat sheets of material, LAI is a leading expert in advanced waterjet machining,
including five-axis cutting and trimming.
- Angled slots,
- Beveled edges
- Contoured surfaces
- Drilling of off-axis holes
- Louvered configurations
- Patterned designs
- Three-dimensional features
Quantifiable Values
- Meet performance metrics standards, including 100 percent on-time delivery
- Propose technical solutions based on manufacturing expertise and advanced manufacturing technologies
- Maintain long-term, best value supplier relationship while delivering mission-critical components and sub-assemblies
- Reduce material costs by approximately 12 percent and production time on parts series by approximately 15 percent
- Adapt to change, responding to needs of cutting costs and delivering products faster
- Leverage understanding of product lifecycle management and production scaling
- Optimize workflow processes and logistics of materials handling
