Future Alloy Study & Testing (FAST) Center

The Future Alloy Study & Testing (FAST) Center is an advanced materials characterization lab that provides high-throughput alloy testing and automated mechanical property testing services to support the U.S. industrial base and Department of War (DOW) research goals. Our facility accelerates material innovation with state-of-the-art velocity testing and discrete characterization for new alloys and thermal processing methods.

The FAST Center, commissioned by the Department of War (DOW), is a partnership between Scot Forge and the Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) office that manages and executes the Department’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program element. The FAST Center is a highly automated characterization lab that supports the IBAS goals of improving the readiness and competitiveness of the U.S. industrial base by expediting the testing and reporting of new alloys and process methods.

FAST Request Form

Automated Alloy Testing to Accelerate Materials Innovation

The goal of the FAST Center is to support the DOW and the warfighter by dramatically increasing the pace of material innovation and development. This state-of-the-art, fully automated characterization lab will help expedite the certification of new materials or thermal processes by conducting thousands of tests in a matter of weeks with the ability to deliver on multiple concurrent projects.

Fast Center Operational Paths:

1. VELOCITY TESTING is High Volume Testing for Property Bounding

This path is designed and equipped to conduct rapid turnaround of very high volumes of the most common tests for property bounding. Velocity testing capabilities are designed to maximize the data available for the scientific community and are useful for rapid chemistry and heat treat iteration testing.

2. DISCRETE TESTING is Low Volume Testing for Property Refinement

This path is highly customized. Upon agreement of the appropriate chemistries or heat treatments, samples will proceed to the discrete testing path for the remainder of the characterization requirements. Given the nature of the tests, the duration of the discrete tests will be highly dependent on the alloy system and testing requirements.

March 2024

FAST Center Government Funding Received

October 2024

FAST Center Open to Project Applications

March 2025

FAST Center Velocity Testing Begins

(Limited Pace)

August 2024

FAST Center Building Construction Begins

December 2024

FAST Center Building Construction Complete

August 2025

FAST Center Operational for Velocity and Discrete Testing

FAST Center Operational Timeline: