Many of the military’s most critical and precise tactical operations occur in rough terrain, where they often encounter unfriendly weather and poor visibility. As such, infantry must be equipped with the best optic sights available to keep soldiers safe under these less-than-optimal conditions. These accessories are mounted directly to weaponry to provide clear views and precision where – and when – it’s needed most.
Minalex plays a vital role in ensuring these mission-critical tools remain functional at all times, manufacturing an aluminum latch for the battery packs that power holographic weapon sights. Using lightweight aluminum for this miniature extrusion ensures that the battery power remains protected under a variety of harsh conditions.
The battery pack latch is produced by Minalex for a local supplier and a longtime Minalex customer. When mounted to infantry weapons, the latch securely holds the battery pack to the holographic weapon sight. In just their last order, Minalex extruded more than 20,000 battery pack latch units for this effort.
Minalex’s aluminum extrusions are found in a wide range of products, armaments and equipment used throughout every branch of the United States Armed Forces. “We’re extremely proud to support our military and their contractor partners in providing the equipment necessary for the military to perform their duties at the highest levels,” says Michael Casey, Minalex Vice President of Sales and Planning. Aluminum is a relatively inexpensive choice for this particular application, especially considering its competitive advantages over plastic. With a long life span, aluminum is lightweight yet sturdy, tolerating extreme heat, cold and wet weather conditions. Because these battery pack latches must fully protect the batteries, precision manufacturing is essential. Minalex’s expertise in producing thin cut, miniature aluminum extrusions to +/-0.001-inch tolerances makes them the ideal partner to create this piece. Aluminum is also easily finished and retains paint color better than its plastic counterparts, which can easily scratch. In this case, a black matte color camouflages perfectly with the battery pack and sight mount. All of these feature’s help ensure that our troops have the accuracy they need to execute operations in the safest manner possible.
