Toray, IGCS International, and Lacks Carbon Fiber form joint DOD cooperation
Toray, IGCS International, and Lacks Carbon Fiber have formed a partnership to collaborate on Department of Defense projects involving CFRP anisogrid lattice structures.
Toray Advanced Composites, IGCS International, and Lacks Carbon Fiber LLC have joined forces to enhance the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) Drone Dominance Program. This collaboration focuses on supplying advanced composite materials for rapid and on-demand drone fabrication, thereby strengthening the U.S. defense supply chain.
The partnership involves IGCS International based in Dallas, Texas, Lacks Carbon Fiber LLC, a division of Lacks Enterprises in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Toray Advanced Composites from Morgan Hill, California. Together, they aim to bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities for drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by integrating their expertise in advanced composite materials, high-volume component manufacturing, and direct-to-government contracting.
Toray Advanced Composites will supply pre-impregnated carbon and glass fiber-reinforced composite materials. These materials will be laminated and processed by Lacks Carbon Fiber to meet the DOD's specifications. IGCS International will facilitate the distribution of these components into the U.S. defense supply chain.
Russ Spears of IGCS International highlights the importance of this initiative, stating that it provides an opportunity to deliver affordable, advanced materials directly to the U.S. defense industry. The collaboration aims to enhance the traditional OEM supply chain by enabling component integration at the depot level and potentially in the field.
Lacks Carbon Fiber plans to utilize its expertise in large-volume automotive component manufacturing and composite materials processing to support this effort. The initiative aligns with the increasing demand for high-rate drone production within the defense sector.
Source: Carbon Fiber Feed