The anniversary of the USS Cole tragedy this month inevitably brings up questions about what has been learned since that time about keeping troops safe. AGM Container Controls is doing its part, as it has for decades, to provide products that address one of the safety concerns brought to light by the tragedy: how to secure equipment on moving or damaged vessels, including Navy ships.
After 40 years of manufacturing environmental control hardware for containers that hold missiles and other sensitive equipment, AGM knows the importance of keeping vital sensitive equipment safe, and thereby keeping people safe. To ensure the protection of crucial equipment from damage due to rough seas and other obstacles, and in turn to help protect the onboard crew, AGM’s KevLok® tie-down shelving is being installed in an increasing number of Navy ships.
AGM’s KevLok tie-down shelving offers the Navy an efficient way to hold commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics equipment in place within moving vehicles, aircraft and ships. The flexibility of AGM’s KevLok tie-down shelving makes it possible to quickly install and replace all shapes and sizes of COTS gear. Since equipment is securely tied down to vinyl-padded lightweight aluminum shelving with adjustable, tight-holding KevLok straps, the shelving also provides an additional layer of safety for vehicle passengers or onboard crew.
With decades of experience developing products for military, electronic and industrial packaging, handling, storage and transportation applications, AGM knows how to provide a quality product that meets exacting industry standards. Virtually all equipment and furniture on Navy surface ships must be shock-qualified. AGM’s tie-down shelving meets the Navy’s medium and lightweight MIL-S-901D “hammer tests” for ship use, as evidenced by their "Hammer Test" YouTube video, which is just one reason AGM provides shelving to many Navy contractors. KevLok shelving is currently used aboard 30 U.S. Navy ships including the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the USS Harry S. Truman. AGM’s tie-down shelving can be found on Navy cruisers (CG Class), destroyers (DDG Class), aircraft carriers (CVN Class) and amphibious assault ships (LHA and LHD Class).
AGM manufactures two types of tie-down shelving, standard tie-down shelving and Quick-Adjust tie-down shelving. Quick-Adjust tie-down shelving is adjustable without needing tools and is best for spaces requiring frequent equipment changes. “To date, 14 of the Navy’s 22 cruisers have received Quick-Adjust tie-down shelving from AGM for the conversion of the ships’ aviation stowage areas,” said Jim McCorry, Director of Business Development at AGM.
In addition to safe and secure storage, AGM’s standard tie-down shelves allow for practical, space-saving additions such as writing surfaces and bookends. The standard tie-down shelving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan nuclear carrier, for instance, includes options like a writing space, two pull-out keyboard trays, file trays, and bookends.
In addition to the two tie-down shelving options, AGM also manufactures multiple types of tie-down strap assemblies. They offer a large selection of hardware and webbing in a variety of strengths to meet the needs of a variety of cargo spaces.
