Quickstep has signed an agreement to allow US-based Vector Resources to use the company's patented Quickstep Process for advanced composites manufacturing.
Quickstep has signed an agreement to allow US-based Vector Resources to use the company's patented Quickstep Process for advanced composites manufacturing.
The Quickstep Process is an Out-Of-Autoclave polymer composite curing process using lower cost material technologies for the high-speed manufacture of advanced composite, bonded metal, and fibre metal laminated structural components.
The licensing agreement will allow Vector to develop and produce composite structural parts using the Quickstep Process for aerospace and defence customers from its Dayton, Ohio facility.
"Becoming a formal licensee of the Quickstep Process is an important addition to our portfolio of out-of-autoclave technologies," Vector CEO Lyle Dunbar said.
"Over the past several years working closely with Quickstep, we have identified a number of advantages in the Process that we can capitalise on to bring value to our current and future customers," he said.
"This signing of this license agreement with Vector marks a hugely significant milestone in bringing our innovative Quickstep Process to commercial reality, especially in the strategic North American market," said Quickstep CEO and managing director, Philippe Odouard.
See company statement below:
Australian advanced materials company Quickstep Holdings Limited (ASX:QHL - "Quickstep") has taken a major step in introducing its patented Quickstep Process into the highly strategic North American market, today announcing that Vector Composites, Inc. ("Vector") has been granted a license to use the Quickstep Process for development and manufacturing of advanced composite components. Vector is the first licensee of the
Quickstep Process in North America.
The Quickstep Process is an Out-Of-Autoclave ("OOA") polymer composite curing process using lower cost material technologies for the high speed manufacture of advanced composite, bonded metal, and fiber metal laminated structural components.
The licensing agreement will allow Vector to develop and produce composite structural parts using the Quickstep Process for aerospace and defense customers in the North American market from its Dayton, Ohio facility.
Initially, Vector will lease time on a Quickstep machine from Quickstep Composites LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quickstep, located adjacent to the Vector facilities in Dayton. However the non-exclusive license agreement includes thresholds which would trigger the purchase of a Quickstep manufacturing machine by Vector, together with the payment of associated royalties and service fees consistent with Quickstep's business model.
Vector and Quickstep were recently awarded a major United States Air Force Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR") Phase II program, expected to total about US$4 million in funding over a 27-month period. Vector is the lead contractor and Quickstep is the principal subcontractor to conduct the joint research program, which will focus on process qualification of bismaleimide and epoxy resin carbon fiber reinforced composite materials using the Quickstep Process for application to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Industrial partners supporting the contract include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and ITT Integrated Structures. Vector and Quickstep have previously collaborated on two Phase I SBIR projects for the U.S. Department of Defense.
"Becoming a formal licensee of the Quickstep Process is an important addition to our portfolio of out-of-autoclave technologies," Vector CEO Lyle Dunbar said. "Over the past several years working closely with Quickstep, we have identified a number of advantages in the Process that we can capitalize on to bring value to our current and future customers."
Quickstep CEO and Managing Director, Philippe Odouard added, "This signing of this license agreement with Vector marks a hugely significant milestone in bringing our innovative Quickstep Process to commercial reality, especially in the strategic North American market. Our previous and current work with Vector has demonstrated the value of our technology, and we are now looking forward to contributing to Vector's growth as they offer our technical solution to the aerospace and defense marketplace."
