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SCRA Applied R&D
Chris Van Metre, President, SCRA Applied R&D
Chris Van Metre
President, SCRA Applied R&D

SCRA Applied R&D builds and leads teams from many industries and organizations to develop technology solutions to complex challenges for federal and corporate clients. Click here for a list of all SCRA-led research programs.

SCRA overcomes traditional barriers to teaming - such as geographical and organizational divides, and intellectual property issues. Our objective “trusted agent” approach helps teams reach consensus, establish priorities and produce results.

SCRA Applied R&D has a strong track record of delivering technologies that achieve wide-spread industry adoption and application.

  • SCRA Systems Engineers designed a multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction command center for a National model port security program.

  • SCRA engineers played a lead role in the design and implementation of EMALL, DoD’s online purchasing site. Hundreds of thousands of orders of critical supplies have been ordered and delivered to US warfighters worldwide using the system.

  • Applied research performed within an SCRA-led shipbuilding program has saved over $20M in total “per hull” costs across several U.S. Navy platforms.

  • Laser imaging and 3-D digital ship design data helps determine the quantity and location of various submarine attachments, resulting in an estimated 85% reduction in labor and up to $500,000 cost savings per hull.

  • An SCRA-led seabasing program developed an automated process for unloading and readying weapons components that will enable air-capable ships to increase aircrafts, while decreasing the manpower involved in the process by as much as 25%.

  • An SCRA-led team developed an auto-tensioning, remote operation device to secure and release cargo on the US Navy’s Landing Craft. Benefits include increased sortie rates, reduced exposure in hostile fire zones, 50-70% reduction in load time and 30-40% reduction in release time.

  • Composites applications developed by an SCRA-led research team will save over $100M in acquisition costs on the U.S. Navy’s VIRGINIA Class submarine.

  • An SCRA-led team incorporated composite structural armor into the Marines’ expeditionary fighting vehicle troop ramp door, reduced the weight by 20%, reducing the cost, and maintaining the original ballistic protection.

  • Investments in large composite structures for the Zumwalt Class Destroyers reduced acquisition and life-cycle costs, realizing a per ship cost avoidance of over $3M to date resulting in a total cost avoidance of over $9M.

  • An SCRA-led cast metal applied research team developed new manufacturing techniques for tank track inserts were employed that deliver a high quality product that lasts 500% longer with only four weeks leadtime.

  • SCRA leads a team developing new applications based on the unique variety of copper’s physical properties. Forging-like integrity is now being accomplished in copper alloys by die casting in a semi-solid state.

  • SCRA leads a team reducing defects during solidification of cast metal parts, with an estimated annual energy savings of 2.44 Trillion BTUs and $14.7M.

  • Healthcare standards developed by an SCRA-led team have become mandatory for Federal agencies sharing medical information.

  • SCRA leads an international team developing product data standards used in the manufacture of hundreds of thousands of products worldwide. Members from over 30 corporate leaders in aerospace, automotive, electronic, and other industries from six countries collaborate to develop these standards.

SCRA Applied R&D