For the 2014 Orion launch, NASA introduced the Launch Abort System (LAS). This large manifold housing made from 6AL-4V titanium is designed to rapidly propel astronauts away from the main rocket in case of a catastrophic explosion or any other unexpected event. Once fired, the LAS will accelerate the astronauts away from the main rocket at forces up to 10 to 15 times normal gravity (“G’s”). This critical part of the safety system was once again vacuum heat treated by Solar Atmospheres of Western PA for their most recent launch. 

With a definitive business plan in place for the future, Jorgensen Conveyor and Filtration Solutions has promoted Karl Kleppek to the position of company president and COO. Effective immediately, Kleppek, director of sales and marketing, takes over for former president Charles (Chuck) D’Amico. D’Amico maintains an active role in the company as CEO and chairman of the board and will focus on strategy development and direct customer relationships. 

To address the ongoing challenge of attracting talented employees to the manufacturing workforce, KUKA Robotics will bring its leading educational and software simulation technologies to the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) CareerTech VISION 2022 conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. Visitors to booth 327, will experience KUKA’s ready2_educate mobile training cell – which provides an entrée into the world of robotics for schools, universities and other training facilities – and the company’s KUKA.Sim smart simulation software for efficient offline robot programming.