CHATSWORTH, CA – September 10, 2015 – NEO Tech announced today that USAF Col. Robert Behnken, PH.D., and NASA astronaut will be at NEO Tech on Sept. 10, 2015 to view the production line of new Lithium Ion Battery Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) for the International Space Station. Once assembled at NEO Tech, completed Li-ion Battery ORUs are delivered to Aerojet Rocketdyne for acceptance testing before being delivered to the Boeing and NASA customer. Col. Behnken is one of four NASA astronauts selected to train for test flights on commercial crew vehicles.
The visit to NEO Tech is part of NASA’s Space Flight Awareness (SFA) program—a NASA-managed motivational and recognition program with invited representation from NASA and contractors having major responsibilities for human spaceflight mission success. The purpose of the visit to NEO Tech is to ensure that each and every employee involved in human space flight is aware of the importance of their role in promoting astronaut safety and mission success in the critical, challenging task of flying humans in the hostile environment of space.
In early 2014 NEO Tech invested in and expanded the Chatsworth facility to produce large form factor, high-reliability products for use in mission critical applications like manned space flight. Aerojet Rocketdyne selected NEO Tech to be their manufacturing partner on the Li-ion battery ORU program as NEO Tech offered a compelling manufacturing solution and with close proximity to Aerojet Rocketdyne enabling concurrent engineering. NEO Tech invested in the production cell infrastructure to build, inspect and test the ORU to meet stringent manned space flight requirements. NEO Tech processes were certified by Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA including process certification of production personnel.
“We are proud to be chosen as a manufacturing partner by Aerojet Rocketdyne on these products that will provide mission critical power for astronauts on the International Space Station,” stated Sudesh Arora, NEO Tech Chief Executive Officer. “We welcome Col. Behnken to NEO Tech to increase awareness on the importance of our role in promoting safety, quality and NASA manned mission success with our employees.”
The visit will include a tour of the NEO Tech Chatsworth site production facility where Li-Ion Battery ORUs are being manufactured and a thank-you lunch with the production team members and Col. Behnken.
About NEO Tech
NEO Tech combines the strengths of three leading contract manufacturers: NATEL, EPIC, and OnCore. With over 40 years of heritage in electronics manufacturing, NEO Tech focuses on low-medium volume/high-mix, high-complexity products primarily in the medical, defense/aerospace and industrial markets.
NEO Tech is favorably positioned among mid-tier EMS manufacturers to “make amazing things happen.” NEO Tech offers full product lifecycle engineering services, manufacturing and testing of microelectronics, cable & harness interconnect products, PCBA, full box build services and aftermarket repair and fulfillment services. The companies that form NEO Tech have been known for solving tough engineering problems that result in high-reliability, high-quality electronic solutions for customers.
Headquartered in Chatsworth, CA, NEO Tech has manufacturing and engineering locations in California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, Mexico, and China. NEO Tech holds and maintains industry specific certifications that include ISO9001, AS9100, ISO13485, ISO/TS16949, ISO14001 and MIL-PRF-38534. To learn more, visit www.NEOTech.com or on Twitter.
Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by visiting their websites atwww.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com.
For more information contact:
Steve Heinzen, VP Marketing
NEO Tech
1 (510) 933-6065