Prime Technology LLC
Electronic display / control systems
We are a Small Veteran Owned Business specializing in engineering and manufacturing located in North Branford, CT with over 35 years of experience in the military and commercial market places.
Our strength is in the electrical processing of measurement and sensing of operational physical parameters like volume, pressure, temperature and flow among others.
Every submarine class going back to the 688 has functional equipment made by Prime Technology in critical applications. Also, every new ship design, submarine or surface ship, since 1985 has some type of equipment designed and manufactured by Prime Technology. This includes the now extremely successful UK Astute Class Submarine.
In fact, every current Navy ship today has some level of Prime Technology equipment on board.
Experience footprint
Through our 45 years of experience we have developed the following NAVY measurement systems:
Virginia Class – our instrumentation system for tank level indication was selected for the Virginia class due to the flexibility our instruments offered in adapting to the various tank profiles within that class of ships. This flexibility has allowed our instrument solution to propagate through the class beyond tank level indication. On board Virginia Class currently our systems are used in: LOTTIS, Lock out Trunk Temperature Indication Pressure Indicator Panel Weapons Launch Panel Underwater Delivery Systems SCIP, Sanitary Control Indication Panel. All common Tank level Indication. Prime Technology System was awarded a patent for its unique approach. Depth indication on BCP and Weapons Launch, classified.
PRIME TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
SSGN Panels – Hull Openings / Trim and Drain / Forward Hovering. We worked with EB in developing the new generation of panels used on the SSGN conversion. Our work upgraded the technology of the panels and greatly simplified the internal wiring that allowed for more reliability.
Many of the items in this development were obsolete. While eliminating this type of obsolescence opened many other opportunities in the Navy allowing us to become the “Go To” company for difficult unavailable systems and components.
During this development we also designed the one of the first Absolute / Differential pressure tank level indicator systems. Based on pressure and utilizing our multifunctional design from tank level on Virginia Class, we were able solve the accuracy requirement of ballast tanks AUX5, AUX2A and AUX2B that could not be met by the existing technology.
To date there have been no significant issues with any of the multiple systems and redesigned components on SSGN.
688I Class Back fit In April of 2017 Prime was awarded a contract from NSWCCD to redesign the existing obsolete bar graph instrument on the Ship Control Station, BCP Ballast Control and Weapons launch for 688I.
Design is completed and environmental testing begins Spring 2018.
UK ASTUTE Class – our 270 degree version of our newly designed Bargraph was selected after an extremely competitive situation.
UK standards for software safety “Sil” qualification was difficult but completely resolved by our engineering efforts. Currently used in the nuclear power plant control room and other applications, a total of 96 instruments per boat.
Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) – Prime Technology developed an environmental monitoring system used on the Hangar, Trunk and Chamber units of the DDS. This system monitors oxygen, carbon dioxide, door opening conditions, pressure and allows video and voice communications between the various spaces.
Aircraft Carriers (CVN) Class – Multiple tank level applications along with EDG emergency diesel generators, STTP Steam Turbine Temperature Panels, trim / list
PRIME TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
control instrumentation. Temperature monitoring and control for hazardous environments. Including thin line pressure sensors for towed arrays.
Arleigh Burke (DDG) Class – Prime Technology was selected by GE to supply all the instrumentation used in the power plant of the DDG class with a total of 120 instruments per ship.
The challenge of this application was the emergence of requirement for EMI. Until this development the Navy had no Bargraph / display instrumentation qualified to be EMI compliant. Although most of this equipment has been upgraded to flat screen we still represent significant systems within all DDG upgrades and our currently used on DDG 1000.
Prime continues with the DDG upgrade program which is being ramped up to 4 ships / year in 2018.
Osprey Class Mine Hunter tank level indicator / receiver. Again EMI compliance in a class of ship was of critical value. It was also our first complete Tank Level Receiver Indicator system. This ship class was discontinued but Prime Technology gained extensive experience for our future designs related to indicators / receivers currently used on Seawolf, SSGN and Virginia Class.
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Prime Technology modified our qualified vertical Bargraph to represent a 240 degree display. Although the program was significantly delayed our product was never taken out of the original design and is now in a critical application of the bridge. LCS is now in production with 8 Independence Class ships active in the fleet, with 8 more on order.
Manufacturing Capabilities Prime Technology has a highly integrated engineering / manufacturing capability that allows us to develop and bring product to market at an accelerated pace. Our in house capabilities are:
a) CNC / Machine Shop b) Plastic Molding
c) Metal Stamping
d) Certified Painting Room
PRIME TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
e) Surface mount pick-and-place (2 machines) / wave soldering
f) Tool making capabilities
g) Precision micro welding machinery
h) Rapid prototyping 3D printer
Information Technology Capabilities
We have an Enterprise system used to coordinate production schedules and cost control accounting on a job by job basis. This capability allows us to control development cost and provide auditing reports to our partners.
Quality Control
Prime Technology adheres to a rigorous Quality Control program that conforms to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 10CFR50 Appendix B and 10CFR21. We also conform to MIL-I-45208 for inspection and MIL-STD-45662A for calibration. This allows us to design and manufacture qualified products for the nuclear power generation industry approved to Safety Related Class 1E.
Design of replacement items related to Navy obsolescence
Sonar Dome pressure indicating system. Used on every class of surface ship.
Trim angle indicator 668I Class (currently in development). Design to include problematic design of weapons launch and BCP indicators.
Pressure Switch for vertical launch tubes (was on DLA obsolescence listing for an excess 1,800 days). To date $500K from 1 of 3 part numbers / pressure ranges. Recently drawings upgraded and resubmitted for other pressure ranges.
Tank level Controllers, Electronics Diesel Engine Controllers and Steam Turbine Temperature Panels for CVN Class. Currently negotiating replacement with standard Prime Tank Level systems.
Digital bargraph meter used on 688I and Seawolf, both Weapons Launch and Ballast Control panels. Obsolete meter has always been problematic and never met EMI standards. Navy was quoted $500,000 in R&D costs from the original manufacturer;
PRIME TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
Prime’s R&D cost was $16,000. Prime’s meter passed all EMI testing, will be fully qualified by end of 2018.
CVN Class tachometer (currently in development with Newport News). Analog switchboard meter was obsolete. Prime is qualifying two designs; one with a 270 degree round digital bargraph, and a multi-function programmable touchscreen display. Both designs feature multiple relay contacts and capable of receiving all common inputs.
Parker Hanifan, redesign of obsolete control electronics.
Trident Class Backfit, Horizontal 9212 have been designed into and passed environmental testing for the Weapons Launch panel on Ohio Class. Electric Boat has asked for pricing to assemble a package for upgrade.
TDR Prime has completed environmental testing on a new TDR based Tank level system for water collection tanks in the reactor vessel of Ohio Class. It is scheduled for back fit on all Ohio Class hulls including SSGN and is being considered for Columbia Class.
Summary
We are a very flexible and quick to respond engineering/manufacturing capable company. Our experience makes us the ideal candidate to work on improving systems that require upgrading due to obsolescence.