Case Study 1: The 2193 Sonar
Alba Ultrasound has completed a significant contract to deliver a new, state-of-the-art sonar system to The Royal Navy. Commissioned by THALES Underwater Systems, Alba Ultrasound has produced the entire suite of wideband arrays for the 2193 Sonar - now hailed as the most advanced mine-detecting sonar in the world.
In total, all 8 of the Royal Navy’s HUNT Class mine counter-measures vessels have now been fitted with the 2193 sonar. Sea trials in Portsmouth, England clearly demonstrated the new sonar’s world-class technology.
Lieutenant Commander Dave Hunkin, Captain of HMS Hurworth - the first mine-hunter to receive the 2193 sonar – was one of the first to praise the new system,
“The crew is very impressed with the sonar’s detection ability. We’ll feel
even more confident approaching minefields, knowing that we have this excellent kit on board...”
“..As new, stealthier mines make their way into other navies’ inventories, it’s vital that we stay one step ahead.”
Alba Ultrasound’s Chief Executive, Victor Murray said, “We had to develop sonar technology that could identify not just conventional maritime mines, but also the latest in stealth mine technology – mines with very low target strengths. The result is a sonar system that can produce remarkable clarity, even to the uninitiated.”
Case Study 2:
Commercialisation of Single Crystal Technology
Alba Ultrasound has completed an award winning Knowledge Transfer Programme with the Centre of Ultrasonic Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The project was to develop the capability to design and manufacture ultrasonic transducer arrays,
using Perovskite PMN-PT single crystal materials, for sonar and NDE applications.
The programme successfully demonstrated that enhanced bandwidth and efficiency could be achieved for devices fabricated from single crystal composite materials when compared to conventional piezoceramic materials.
Alba now has the capability to manufacture sonar and NDE arrays using this new material.
