Customers

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  AFT has been competitively selected for negotiation and possible award by the U.S. Army for a Phase 2 SBIR project valued at $712,000. The Phase 2 project is an extension of a successful Phase 1 project where AFT identified a wear problem on a commercial diesel common rail fuel injection system running on JP-8 jet fuel. The Army uses JP-8 jet fuel in all of its diesel applications for logistics reasons. In the Phase 2 project, AFT will redesign the common rail pump to lower wear to acceptable levels. To accomplish this goal, AFT will apply materials technology and other lessons learned during the development of our well-known DME common rail fuel system. On December 4, 2009, AFT was also competitively selected for negotiation and possible award to develop Ultra High Pressure Jet Propellant-8 (JP-8) fuel injection under the Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The proposal includes the development of a concept for an intensified, lube oil actuated, common rail injection system capable of producing peak injection pressures >40 ksi (2800 bar), is readily adaptable to Army COTS engines, and can be demonstrated within the cost constraints of Phase 1.

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  AFT received an order from Shanghai Diesel Engine Company for 12 DME fuel feed pumps. These pumps will be used on 10 DME fueled city buses that will operate in Shanghai. Shanghai Diesel Engine Company Limited, through its subsidiaries and associates, engages in the manufacture and sale of diesel engines, fuel injection pumps, and components of diesel engines. Other activities of the group include manufacture and sale of power generators; design, manufacture, and sale of supercharges; design and installation of electrical equipment; manufacture of construction machinery components and mining machinery; development and sale of computer hardware and software; provision of transportation and vehicle maintenance services; and provision of property management service. It primarily operates in the People's Republic of China. Shanghai Diesel Engine Company was established in 1993. As of December 28, 2008, Shanghai Diesel Engine Co. Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of SAIC Motor Corporation Limited. Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation (SAIC) has about 50 plants in the Shanghai area. SAIC makes passenger cars, tractors, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. Its joint venture with General Motors, Shanghai General Motors, makes Buicks and other GM cars for the Chinese market.

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  The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) is a Government entity that focuses on advanced energy research and development projects with the goal of mass implementation and Commercialization of efficient, clean energy alternatives. KIER is interested in AFTC‘s DME technology as a replacement for diesel fuel and views DME as an economic means by which the country may improve air quality and gain increased energy security in the future. In addition, government officials realize the potentially massive economic benefits associated with widespread adoption of DME as a fuel source. KIER will use AFT's pumps to develop a DME fueled engine in their laboratory. When successful, a similar engine will be converted to DME and installed in a Hyundai e-Mighty truck for "real world" road testing. Click here to visit the KIER Web site. Click here to read the KIER injection pump press release.

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  In July 2009, AFT responded to an SBIR invitation by submitting a proposal to develop an innovative advanced propulsion solution for future combatant craft with breakthrough technology for multi-fuel engines weighing three to five times less than conventional diesel engines of the same horsepower. The U.S. Navy, and its Navy SEALS in particular, utilize assault craft and combatant patrol vessels that rely on speed, acceleration and maneuverability to protect the lives of troops and secure multi-mission success. The increasing demand to carry greater “payloads” inherently reduces the current craft’s overall performance, including speed, agility, even survivability of troops. The U.S. Navy is in need of an alternative to current diesel fuel propulsion systems; one that allows for increased payloads without sacrificing speed and acceleration. More specifically, an innovative solution that decreased “weight to power ratios” significantly, thereby enabling increases in mission system payload weight and personnel transport capability. AFT submitted its proposal on July 15, ahead of schedule, and expects an answer in the next 60 to 90 days. The project includes three phases. Phase one could generate a total $100,000; Phase two could exceed $1,000,000, and Phase three which includes the completion of a full prototype engine installed in a marine craft, would likely approach $20,000,000. The US NAVY defines only the scope of the work rather than the contract dollar amount.