10 YEARS AGO — 2002
Clean mail in an hour: Mail-Klenz from APO Health, Oceanside, N.Y., sterilizes an entire envelope and its contents in less than an hour using dry or steam heat. Systems come in four sizes and fit into a typical mail room. Smaller units use standard 110-V outlets and need no special wiring while larger units require 220 V.
Sterilizers have automatic timers with heat “hold” capability for continuous use. They are delivered ready to use, are FDA approved as a medical-sterilizing device, and UL-rated. The system includes a sterilizing unit, highfiltration facemasks, gloves, isolation pouches, and monthly strips.
30 YEARS AGO — 1982
Step toward new destroyers: RCA Missile and Surface Radar has received a definition-phase contract as the combat-system engineering agent for the Navy’s new DDG-51 class of multipurpose guided-missile destroyers. RCA will design a balanced combat system that integrates anti-air, antisubmarine, strike, and surface-warfare capabilities. As many as 60 ships of this new class are planned in a program that may continue to the year 2000.
50 YEARS AGO — 1962
Stainless-steel-clad aluminum can be fabricated without separation or deformation and joined by various methods, including welding, brazing, soldering, and adhesive bonding. The material, designated C908 by the Aluminum Co. of America, is a 0.010-in. layer of Type 300 stainless bonded to 3004 aluminum alloy. It comes in thicknesses of 0.040 to 0.250—in. Initial uses are for cooking utensils and small appliances; potential applications are seen in aerospace and automotive components and process equipment.