ACS and the Search and Rescue of persons in distress in the Maritime and Aeronautical Field: the WamBlee case
ACS is a partner of WamBlee to perform the tests required by the most stringent Maritime and Aeronautical standards with precision and repeatability.
Safety and reliability. Two requirements ACS places at the service of its customers. This is the case of WamBlee, Italian excellence in the nautical sector, which has chosen ACS to test its electronic devices used for rescue operations at sea.
The importance of reliability for WamBlee products
Reliability is the main requirement for WamBlee products: the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), for example, is a device used to indicate the position of a vessel through a satellite network in the event of an emergency or serious danger to life and thus help rescue units (SAR) in their search and rescue task. When the rescue teams get closer to the alarm location, the signal is able to guide them through the use of radio locators. To facilitate night-time searching, the device is also equipped with a solid-state flash [LED] lighting system.
Since its foundation in 2007, the company has equipped itself with high-performance instrumentation to carry out its research and development activities. The design process is an integral part of WamBlee business, as EPIRB emergency radio buoys or ELT radios, approved by EASA, must meet precise construction and functional specifications under certain environmental conditions: low and high temperature, humidity, vibrations, shock, mould resistance, flame resistance, impact and pressure resistance, decompression and more.
To test the reliability of its products, WamBlee has recently equipped its laboratory with an ACS vibration test chamber with a -70/+180°C temperature range and a 15°C/min gradient, to perform environmental simulation tests not only on electronic equipment: intensive tests are also carried out on Lithium batteries and cells to meet aeronautical safety requirements (RTCA DO-227A).
"For us - declares Daniele Banfi, Head of the company - quality and instrumental precision are fundamental for the development of our products, and it was natural to rely on Angelantoni Test Technologies. With the ACS chamber we have faced validation tests and certifications of components for Aeronautical and Maritime use, such as the validation tests of Lithium cells for aeronautical equipment. We are satisfied with ACS performance and after-sales service, an important added value for us.”