Optical Parts Manufacturer Awarded Contract

KSaria of Wilmington, Mass., will develop automation equipment for the manufacture of fiber optic cable assemblies and patch cords for US Navy and other Department of Defense systems under the first phase of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract from Lockheed Martin. The company says it can automatically manufacture the optical parts in a manner that is quick, affordable and relatively error-free, in contrast to the current manual method, which has an error rate that is unacceptable for use in military systems. The Navy's Manufacturing Technology Program Office oversees the kSaria/Lockheed relationship.