reported the LA Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLuckily, an experiment aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson that used laser ablation from Adapt Lasers, proved successful in cutting time and cost from paint removal activities. The company\u2019s process had previously been used to strip away paint and coatings from Air Force aircraft parts, however, this is the first time that the Navy has considered laser ablation on its ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cResults from these experiments showed laser paint removal to be safer for the workers and faster than traditional methods used for many years,\u201d Timothy Niemeier, vice president of Adapt Laser, said in a statement. \u201cIt reduces solvent or chemical exposure hazards while eliminating time consuming preparation and clean-up steps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of laser ablation reportedly include \u201cless operational downtime for military personnel [and] no additional need to use solvents or chemicals to remove any oils, grease or other surface contaminants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBased on excellent test results, our laser coating removal equipment is Navy approved for shipboard use,\u201d Niemeier said. \u201cThe Navy has a new solution, to save time, reduce hazards and better maintain the most advanced ships in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, it seems sailors will finally be able to shift their focus away from chipping paint and onto more important tasks like planning steel beach picnics or figuring out what to do with all those aquaflage cammies now that the service has retired them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n