Icomat to open two new factories in the UK and the US

The British composites manufacturer, inventor of the patented Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) process (also known as fibre-sheering technology), is simultaneously opening new factories in the UK and the US. The opening of these two sites will strengthen the manufacturer’s presence in the UK whilst establishing itself in the US, thereby making its operations in that country more efficient.

In addition to its first plant, located in Gloucester, UK, Icomat is opening a second plant in Swindon, UK. The company states that with this new site, it now has one of the largest composite production networks in the UK. The 40,000 sq ft (3,716.12 m²) factory will house 20 CNC machines, 4 autoclaves and 2 ply cutters. It will also house a fully equipped metrology laboratory. The factory adopts a vertically integrated production approach, with the aim of providing a true end-to-end service; it will be capable of producing both tools and complex assemblies.

“Factory II removes the limits of scale. From raw material to final assembly, it all happens under our roof,” comments Evangelos Zympeloudis, founder & CEO, Icomat.

“Factory 2 will not just provide greater processing capacity but avail us of some of the most skilful technicians in the industry dedicated to upholding the quality values that sit at the heart of Icomat’s ethos,” says Keith Fairbrass Managing Director, Icomat.

A full production footprint in the United States

Icomat is also opening its third factory. This is the company’s first facility outside the UK, located in Dayton, Ohio (USA), specifically in Vandalia. This 41,000 sq ft (3,809.02 m²) facility, situated close to the heart of the US aerospace and defence ecosystem – near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and a cluster of equipment manufacturers developing the next generation of aircraft, drones and advanced platforms – houses both an R&D centre and a manufacturing facility, and will enable end-to-end composite manufacturing, from initial development and design through to production, directly for US defence and aerospace customers. Icomat’s presence in the country will help the manufacturer respond more quickly to requests from US customers.

“Icomat has developed a truly revolutionary manufacturing technology – one with the potential to transform critical industries such as aerospace and defence. Since our first investment, we’ve supported the company’s growth and global expansion, and it’s exciting to see this next chapter begin as they establish their first facility in the Unites States, in Ohio,” says Alex Moore, partner, 8VC.

“Alongside our partners at the Dayton Development Coalition, we welcome Icomat’s decision to establish its first North American operations in Ohio. From this strategic location in Montgomery County, Icomat will produce cutting-edge composites while benefiting from close proximity to defence, aerospace and automotive customers and access to world-class manufacturing talent,” explains J.P. Nauseef President & CEO, JobsOhio.

“We’re excited to establish our first North American facility in Vandalia, bringing our revolutionary Rapid Tow Shearing technology closer to our U.S. customers. This expansion represents a significant milestone in our mission to redefine the art of the possible in composite manufacturing,” concludes Evangelos Zympeloudis CEO & founder, Icomat.

Cover photo: Icomat’s facility in Swindon, UK (source: Icomat)