Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Germany Assignment Bolsters Army Engineer’s Materials-Science Research

By Dan Lafontaine, RDECOM Public Affairs | September 19, 2016

Protecting Soldiers and advancing military lethality is based on the foundations of materials science. 

A U.S. Army engineer returned recently from an exchange assignment in which he advanced this critical research area by working alongside his German peers. 

“It was an easy decision to take that leap and explore the opportunity. This would be an excellent opportunity for me to make those connections in an international setting and thereby broaden my knowledge of how we do science, broaden connections and networks between our lab here in the U.S. and that particular lab in Germany,” said Dr. Vince Hammond, a materials engineer with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.

Hammond, who holds a doctorate in materials science from the University of Virginia, participated in the Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program, which allows American military R&D experts to partner with an ally for a year, with the possibility of an extension. He worked at the Bundeswehr Research Institute for Fuels, Materials and Lubricants in Erding, Germany, from July 2014 to July 2016.

Before he left for his German assignment, Hammond was leading an ARL program to develop ultra-high strength magnesium alloys, which are of interest to the Army because they are lightweight. 

“They offer the potential to take weight out of a system. Thereby you could increase the cargo capacity or fuel efficiency of a vehicle, or reduce the weight a Soldier has to carry on their body,” he said. “Ultimately, the material would be integrated into a vehicle platform or personnel protection. That’s where our efforts in basic research come to fruition.”

Hammond planned to continue in this research area while in Germany; however, his focus quickly changed. 

“When I arrived at the site in Germany, they had just gotten in a new machine known as a selective laser melting machine, which is part of the additive manufacturing world,” he said. “The new research or production approach allows you to produce a 3-D component one layer at a time.

“I helped them stand up their machine, break it in, learn the ropes. When I came back [to the United States], it turns out the Army Research Lab is very much seeking to establish a consortium, or a center, of agile manufacturing that includes additive manufacturing as a key component. It is my hope and wish to take what I’ve learned in Germany through my assignment and transition it back here to make a contribution.”

Additive manufacturing is a rapidly expanding R&D component in military and civilian sectors. Hammond, along with his colleagues in ARL’s Lightweight/Specialty Metals Branch, are aiming to capitalize on these new connections with German researchers to expand Soldier performance. 

“The people I worked with in Germany are some of the key decision makers for how the German military will be doing additive manufacturing. Through that prism of the institute, we can interact with some of their military researchers, not just in additive, but through other connections there into corrosion science, coating science, polymer composites — the whole range of materials of interest to the Army. 

“Furthermore, we now can get some insight into German companies and try to identify players in that particular area that may have a material of interest to explore. Those are exciting possibilities that make the exchange program worthwhile. It’s a continuing benefit even after you return to the U.S.”

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Aerospace + defense

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Widening the scope for machine tool designers with FORTiS™ enclosed encoder
  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.