Page 56: of Marine Technology Magazine (July 2011)

THE MARINE TECHNOLOGY REPORTER 100BIRNS, Inc. is an ISO 9001:2008-certified designer and manufacturer of high performance lights, connectors, pene- trators and custom cable assembliesfor the planets most demanding envi- ronments?from deep ocean, com- mercial diving and marine applica- tions to military programs and nuclear power facilities. The company has been innovating underwater technology since 1954, delivering a wide range of unparal- leled, technologically advanced prod- ucts proven to perform in rigorous applications. Its products began lighting the wayto new depths of subsea explorationduring the original Sealab projects ,and today continue to be relied on worldwide.Technology Profile: In 2011, BIRNS received ABS Product Design Assessment Certification for its lines of penetrators. Thus, ABS pre- approved all design, drawing and test procedures for BIRNS electrical pen- etrators and cable assemblies forunderwater vehicles, systems and hyperbaric facilities for use on a vari- ety of ABS-class vessels. BIRNS offers a range of high performance connec- tors lines, including the BIRNSMillennium series. These high-densi- ty metal shell connectors come stan-dard with a high open faced pressure rating to 6km and have options from high and low voltage combinations, electro-coax and electro-mechanical configurations, to single fiber andcomplex electro optical hybrid con- figurations with the lowest losses in the industry (<1dB), in accordance with ANSI/TIA/EIA-455 for fiberoptic return loss test procedures. The Millennium series has features such as high contact density for maximized payload efficacy, replaceable inserts that permit the use of 22, 20, 16, 14,12 and 10 AWG contacts all in the same connector. BIRNS also provides state-of-the-art in house testing, elec- trical, optical and mechanical termi-nation and assembly molding andovermolding. This year the company launched the BIRNS Aurora, a 14,000 lumen Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) deep submergence vehicle light, and enhanced options to its popular L?series of LED lights, including thenew BIRNS Aquila and the new BIRNS Doubly-Safe Chamber Light, both with brilliant 50,000 hour lamplives. Keeping Connected with BIRNSBIRNS1720 Fiske Place Oxnard, CA 93033 Tel: 805-487-5393 Fax: 805-487-0427Email: abrown@ birns.com www.birns.com CEO: Eric BirnsDirector of Corporate Communications: Amy Brown QA Manager: Steve Hollinger Engineering Mgr.: Jeff Kirby Production Mgr. : Keith Gear Facility: Manufacturing/DesignSquare Footage: 11,400 Testing Capabilities BIRNS has a state-of-the-art, high performance hydrostatic pressure testing system, with a range of vessels rated to 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000 psi. The system also has a robust, high volume helium testing capability, exceeding stringent ABS/DNV requirements for man-rated penetrator testing. BIRNS serves as an independent testing resource for the industry, and provides electrical testing (to 10kV) and hydrostatic pressure testing (to 20,000psi) per MIL-STD- 1344, triple optical loss testing and custom tests likemechanical pull testing (to 16,000 lbs.) in straight or sideloading and numerous test per UL requirements. BIRNS also performs tests for a wide range of underwater light- ing products, including qualification to rated depth, conti- nuity, leak, burn and pressure testing. Number of Employees: 25CEO Eric Birns com-pany has a long anddistinguished history, dating to the 1950s,serving the subsea industrys needs. 56MTRJuly/August2011