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Jered Brown Brothers' New Focus, Facilities, Help Win New Business And Retain Current Clients Jered Brown Brothers, over the last five years, has transformed itself from a traditional marine equipment subcontractor for major world ship- yards into a systems engineering house capable of serving as prime contractor on turnkey, diver- sified naval and commercial projects. The company has nearly finished the trans- formation despite the fact that it has completely relocated its operation in the past year, and through the diversion of twice winning (and twice having competitors file protests over) the biggest contract award in its 46 year history. "We certainly don't want to create the impres- sion that we are withdrawing from, or neglect- ing, our current shipyard customers and tradi- tional products," said Jered president, Rick Edger. "But during this period of marine mar- ket contraction, we have been concentrating on expanding our role to include that of a prime contractor to the U.S. Navy and to other navies. "Relocating and consolidating our operations this year on a deep-water site in Brunswick, Ga., in vastly larger facilities than we had in Detroit, has provided us with the manufacturing space and shipping capabilities we need," Mr. Edger continued. "And winning the Navy's ELCAS contract twice in the past year is solid evidence that we have had some positive success." The ELCAS (Elevated Causeway System) is a modular cargo unloading platform that is part of the Navy's Strategic Sealift Program. Jered Brown Brothers won the original contract in December 1991, only to have it terminated in early 1992 as a result of a competitor's lawsuit. Jered won the rebid in September 1992, only to have work stopped a second time on the basis of Hydrasearch Expands Its Fueling-At-Sea Line Hydrasearch Company, a manufacturer of fueling at sea equipment for Navy ships, has expanded its products to include solid cargo and vertical underway replenishment (UNREP) equipment. Hydrasearch's equipment includes probes and probe receivers, robb couplings, NATO couplings, hose assemblies, saddles and related equipment required for alongside and astern fueling. Solid cargo UNREP equipment includes transfer chairs, trolleys, star latches and probes, pelican hooks, traveling surfs and equipment to trans- fer pallets. For additional information on the equipment and capabilities of Hydrasearch Company, Circle 56 on Reader Service Card WDC Offers Sensor, Torsionmeter System To Shipping Industry Wireless Data Corporation, a leading manu- facturer of telemetry-based systems for gather- ing, transmitting and receiving sensor data from rotating machinery, offers two new models to shipbuilders, the model 1602A Torsionmeter System and the model 1650B Sensor. The Torsionmeter system allows for accurate measurement of power, on diesel, steam and gas December, 1992 Interior view of Jered Brown Brothers' largest building a competitor's protest. "We weren't the low bidder on the project; we won the contract both times on the basis of our outstanding technical proposal," Mr. Edger said. "We think it's just a matter of time before the GAO clears up the protests and gives us the go-ahead." When the project is green-lighted, activity will increase significantly at the company's 225,000- sq.-ft. "Liberty Works" manufacturing plant. The facility, which is set on a 110-acre site with over 1,000 feet on the Brunswick River, sits adjacent to the Georgia Ports Authority and is six miles from the Atlantic. In addition to its large-scale manufacturing operation at the Liberty Works, Jered has a sepa- rate business unit devoted to a market niche: vacuum collection, hold and transfer sewage sys- tem (VCHT). turbine propulsion systems, on vessels from tow- boats to 500,000-dwt tankers. The model 1602A is the company's most cost effective unit, and the manufacturer assures maintenance free opera- tion and long term stability. The model 1602A is currently used in a variety of applications, including fuel conservation pro- grams, hull and propeller fouling, load balancing on twin screw vessels, power plant monitor and sea trials torsionmeter. The unit features a patented dual bending beam sensor secured to the propeller shaft, which continuously monitors and transmits torque data regardless of vessel trim, list or operating envi- ronment. The model is usable on vessels with power up to 100,000 hp per shaft, at 2,500 rpm's, on shaft sizes 2.5 through 32 inches. The model 1650B sensor is good for obtaining torque from machinery where little downtime can be afforded. The sensors are calibrated at the factory, and ideal for shafts sized between 2.5 and eight inches. The running limit is 2,500 rpm for a 2.5-inch diameter unit, dropping to 1,500 rpm for the eight-inch unit. Ready-to-use model 1650B sensors convert power I/O shafts into torque transducers in 15 minutes or less. The quick torque sensors are ideal, according to the manufacturer, for those applications involving repetitive testing of identi- cal systems, such as small boat propellers, motor driven pumps and low-speed power take-offs. The model 1650B sensor consists of a patented deflection sensor mounted to a pair of clamp rings. Each clamp ring has an inner blunt knife edge which aids in defining a specific shaft length. The sensor monitors any twisting due to torque over this length. The VCHT unit designs, manufactures and makes vacuum products and systems for com- mercial, passenger and military ships, yachts, boats sailing vessels and recreational vehicles, and other non-maritime transportation modes. Compact and lightweight, the Jered VCHT system requires only two pints of water per flush. Also headquartered in the Liberty Building is Jered's customer support group, which provides total system parts and service support. Full field service support is provided with service repre- sentatives located in San Diego, Norfolk, Jack- sonville and Pascagoula/New Orleans. In addi- tion, the Customer Support Group services all aspects including spare parts, of the FFG-7 Fin Stabilizer System and other equipment origi- nally manufactured by Jered's sister companies, Brown Brothers, Michell Bearings, Stone Vickers and KaMeWa A.B. Mr. Edger claims the move to larger facilities has already paid off with new business for large cranes, orders that could not have been built in the company's former facilities. The first order is for a 200-foot high, 40-ton container crane for the Port of Jacksonville, Fla., and the second is for the fabrication of two 125-ton bridge cranes, each 200 feet long, for the U.S. Navy's Kings Bay, Ga., submarine base. Today, Jered deck edge elevators are at work on virtually the entire fleet of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, plus those of France and Spain; retract- able bow planes on Los Angeles Class, (SSN-688) submarines; hydraulic steering equipment is aboard CVN carriers, Spruance (DD 963) Class destroyers, Perry (FFG 7) Class frigates, and Ticonderoga (CG 47) Class Aegis cruisers. For additional information on Jered Brown Brothers products and facilities, Circle 73 on Reader Service Card For additional information on WDC's model 1602A torsionmeter system, Circle 58 on Reader Service Card For additional information on WDC's model 1650B sensor, Circle 59 on Reader Service Card USS VICKSBURG JOINS ATLANTIC FLEET—USS Vicksburg (CG 69), the 16th Ticonderoga(CG47)Class Aegisguided missilecruiser builtforthe U.S. Navy by Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton, in Pascagoula, Miss., sails through the Gulf of Mexico during her predelivery sea trials. The new cruiser was recently commissioned into the U.S. At- lantic Fleet at Naval Station Pascagoula. 67
