SCRA, an applied research and technology services company headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, has been awarded three 2011 Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement awards-one of which was for its work in an initiative that reduced the cost and weight of prosthetic and orthotic devices. The awards, given yearly by the Department of Defense (DoD) Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program, recognize the projects and teams that significantly impact the Department of Defense (DoD), further manufacturing technology, and ultimately impact war fighters.
The prosthetics and orthotics manufacturing initiative was funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) ManTech and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Science & Technology Program (OSD MS&T), and improved the durability and comfort of prosthetics and orthotics for wounded service members, according to an SCRA press release. The project resulted in sockets that were 50 percent lighter and more comfortable with longer lifecycles. Additionally, the sockets cost 40 percent less to manufacture and there was increased production.
