4 Mar 2015
L-3 Essco sets the new standard for metal space frame radomes with Dyneema® Crystal Technology
New Durashed Radome™ solution offers superior protection for advanced SATCOM, surveillance and tracking applications
The Netherlands, 4 March 2015 - L-3 ESSCO, the world's leading manufacturer and installer of ground-based radomes, today announced its new Durashed Radome™, the latest innovation in Metal Space Frame (MSF) protective structures. The solution, developed in exclusive arrangement with DSM Dyneema, incorporates the latest innovation in ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material, a patent-pending membrane branded as Dyneema® Crystal Technology.
The Dyneema® Crystal Technology is exceptionally hydrophobic and is 50 percent stronger than standard skins. It provides increased structural integrity to the radome and protects sensitive equipment by keeping the elements outside where they belong. It is also nearly transparent to microwaves, enabling military, civil and telecom organizations to realize the full potential of their advanced antenna, radar, radio astronomy or communications systems.
“We are constantly focused on implementing innovations that provide our customers with superior solutions,” said Thomas Casale, president of L-3 ESSCO. “Over the next few months, L-3 ESSCO will introduce a new generation of MSF radomes by rolling out a series of advances designed to deliver more value and respond to our customers’ evolving requirements. The first enhancement is our exclusive Durashed Radome™ with Dyneema® Crystal Technology. Extensive independent testing of this new solution in extreme conditions has demonstrated revolutionary safety and performance increases, and we anticipate it will become the new go-to standard for the industry.”
Hydrophobicity is critical to achieving RF transparency in wet environments. Normally, this is provided by a resin-based coating that must be reapplied every few years for maximum effectiveness. With L-3 ESSCO’s new solution, hydrophobic properties are inherent in the membrane itself, virtually eliminating the need for regular maintenance.
“We are very excited to be working together with a dynamic company like L-3 ESSCO on this groundbreaking development,” said Danielle Petra, new business development manager at DSM Dyneema. “Our two companies share a spirit of innovation, and together, we have been able to extend the envelope of what can be done with Dyneema® fiber.”
Benefits
L-3 ESSCO’s Durashed Radome™ with Dyneema® Crystal Technology offers maximum transparency and protection over a broad band of frequencies, providing greater range, higher accuracy and sensitivity, and more consistent performance. Specific benefits include:
- The lighter, 50 percent stronger membrane increases the structural integrity of the Durashed Radome™, which can withstand wind speeds up to 250 mph and all forms of precipitation
- A very high level of hydrophobicity (water bead contact angle with the surface is greater than 100 degrees) means that water is instantly shed, which is critical at certain operating frequency bands
- An extremely low (0.001) loss tangent increases RF transparency
- The membrane can easily be sized to fit all existing L-3 ESSCO MSF panel sizes and truncations
- Reduced manufacturing cycle times mean orders can be delivered in two-thirds the time of conventional products
- Reduced maintenance requirements minimize costly downtime and lower lifetime costs
- Solution comes with the industry’s only 10-year limited warranty when installed by factory-trained L-3 ESSCO personnel
- Overall superior performance for the price means more value for customers
L-3 ESSCO’s Durashed Radome™ with Dyneema® Crystal Technology will be available beginning June 2015. For more information about L-3 ESSCO’s products and accessories, please contact its sales department at 978-568-5100 / Web.Ayer@L-3com.com.
World ATM Congress, Madrid, Spain, March 10–12, 2015
Visit L-3 ESSCO at the World ATM Congress (Booth 1239) to learn about the company’s latest innovations and to see a sample of the exciting new Durashed Radome™ with Dyneema® Crystal Technology.
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Notes for editors
About DSM Dyneema
DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) fiber branded as Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® fiber floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.
UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.
DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM has around 21,000 employees and delivers annual net sales of more than €9 billion. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.
About L-3 ESSCO
L-3 ESSCO and its subsidiary, L-3 ESSCO Collins Limited (ECL), are the world’s premier designers and manufacturers of ground-based radomes, reflectors and RF composite structures. Since its founding in 1961, ESSCO has successfully produced and installed over 5,000 ground-based radomes and more than 10 of the world’s most precise radio telescopes and reflectors. Actual field experience and extensive testing by L-3 ESSCO’s technical team and its customers have proved the accuracy of the company’s analytical predictions and the performance of its products. L-3 ESSCO continues to expand its products and portfolio and develop capabilities for an even broader range of products and services, including shipboard radomes, specialty radomes and reflector applications, radome accessories, turnkey solutions, design and engineering, and worldwide installation and maintenance.To learn more about L-3 ESSCO, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3com.com/ESSCO.
About L-3
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 employs approximately 45,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aerospace systems and national security solutions. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of communication and electronic systems and products used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2014 sales of $12.1 billion. To learn more about L-3, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3com.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “will,” “could” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company’s Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking Statements included in the company’s recent filings, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Durashed Radome™ is a trademark of L-3 ESSCO. Dyneema® and Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ are trademarks of DSM. Use of these trademarks is prohibited unless strictly authorized.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Related images
L-3 Essco sets the new standard for metal space frame radomes with Dyneema® Crystal Technology.
(Photo L3-Essco, DYNPR303)
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