VIDEO: Rock West's growth in the space sector
Rock West Composites’ chief strategy officer discusses recent surge in space applications on the CAMX 2024 show floor.
At CAMX 2024, Scott Francis, editor-in-chief of CompositesWorld, spoke with Tom Preece, chief strategy officer at Rock West Composites (San Diego, Calif., U.S.).
Preece explained Rock West’s broad range of offerings, from complex, tight-tolerance space structures to more commercial, cost-effective products.
Recently, the company has experienced rapid growth in the space sector, with its products being used in satellite assemblies and lunar lander components.
“Space in particular is a very quickly growing segment for us,” explains Preece. “It’s the fastest growing business segment of all the business that we do and requires a lot of expertise in various types of space structures, solar array substrates, bus structures, etc., so a lot of complicated tight-tolerance structures. But, we're also very commercial focused. We do a lot of work that’s lower cost, less expensive for the masses, a lot of diversity in the business.
“Rock West specializes in multiple manufacturing processes, including filament winding, resonant fusion, compression molding and prepackaged layup, and also provides engineering and technical support to product development, including design optimization, material selection and prototyping services.”
Related Content
-
What to expect at CAMX 2023
Are you ready for Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX) 2023? This year’s event takes place Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2023 in Atlanta, Ga., U.S.
-
Raw materials distributor provides quality fiberglass, resin variety
CAMX 2024: Imate Composites presents a variety of resins, fiberglass and roving products, as well as mats and catalysts.
-
VIDEO: Recycling and machining carbon fiber scraps
Elevated Materials has partnered with Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. to collect and upcycle reclaimed carbon fiber scraps into large billet laminates, which can then be cut into various parts using CNC mills.