The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program (ManTech) has announced Figure Engineering as a winner of the OIB Modernization Challenge. Figure Engineering’s Maskless Robotic Painting System with real-time control project, powered by its proprietary Signac system, was chosen to be funded $500k to demonstrate an innovative technology solution to significantly improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance environmental sustainability within the Organic Industrial Base (OIB).
Figure Engineering’s team, which includes Siemens, Lockheed Martin, and ARM Institute, impressed the DoD with their cutting-edge solution that tackles precision painting with USAF-approved Mil-Spec coatings, including 2k paint, on contoured surfaces in any orientation. The Maskless Robotic Painting with Realtime Control project leverages the Signac system, a revolutionary maskless robotic painting technology that eliminates the need for traditional stencils and masking processes. Figure Engineering’s strategic partnership with Siemens, Lockheed Martin, and ARM Institute will propel our technology to the next level and advance the coating process for defense manufacturing and maintenance.
Signac’s innovative approach offers several key advantages:
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- Increased Efficiency: Signac significantly reduces setup times and material waste compared to traditional methods, leading to faster production cycles and decreased costs.
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- Enhanced Precision: The system utilizes advanced robotics and control systems to deliver incredibly precise and consistent paint application, reducing rework and improving product quality.
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- Improved Sustainability: By eliminating the need for disposable masks and associated solvents, Signac minimizes environmental impact and promotes greener manufacturing practices.
“Winning this award is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our team, and we believe our Maskless Robotic Painting with Realtime Control project has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing processes within the OIB and beyond,” said Camille Jones, Director of Robotics and Automation at Figure Engineering.
As Signac scales, Figure Engineering sees a great opportunity to provide advanced maskless painting to the commercial aerospace and defense industry among other industries.
About Figure Engineering
We are an advanced sustainment technology company developing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) solutions for the Aerospace and Defense industries. Figure Engineering is aligned with the Department of Defense’s mission to provide war-winning capabilities to the warfighter by developing world-class Industry 4.0 depot maintenance technologies.
Founded in 2005, Figure Engineering builds next-generation technology that improves fleet readiness, increases worker safety, and enables ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results.
Figure Engineering develops advanced manufacturing and sustainment technologies for aerospace, defense, and several other industries. Our products are used by the US Military, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) depots, and Commercial Industry leaders across the globe.