A consortium of nearly 50 aerospace companies and research universities — including Boeing, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Collins/Raytheon, ATC Manufacturing, Gonzaga University and more — have applied for the designation of a tech hub in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene region in Idaho through the EDA Regional Tech Hub program. The Spokane Hub, called the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center (AAMMC), will be focused on meeting the global high-rate production demands of advanced composite aerostructures for the defense and commercial markets. 

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) will be designating 20 Tech Hubs in the U.S. in Phase 1. Only those awarded this Tech Hub designation in Phase 1 will compete for Phase 2 grant, each approximately $65 million.

“As NASA has highlighted with their HiCAM program, we must speed up the development of affordable, high-rate composite manufacturing technologies, to meet the production needs of Boeing and other U.S. aircraft manufacturers and to have any hope of achieving the goals for the U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan and Net Zero 2050 Goal,” David Leach, thermoplastic composites expert and director of business development at ATC Manufacturing, says. “The ability of composites to reduce weight and therefore fuel consumption is what makes them key to this effort; thermoplastic composites — what we do at ATC — are highly important because parts can be manufactured in 20-30% of the time compared to other materials and they are recyclable.”

Jacob Bonwell, CEO of ATC Manufacturing, notes that the AAMMC Tech Hub is critical to quickly developing those large-scale thermoplastic manufacturing capabilities necessary to compete globally.

The AAMMC will integrate education and workforce training with small- and medium-sized industry partners, alongside global aerospace leaders and advanced research institutions. This collaboration will enhance learning, training and broaden the knowledge base of advanced composite materials, as well as:

• Establish a testbed facility for large thermoplastic composite (TPC) aerospace materials at technology readiness levels (TRL) 6-9, such as ribs, beams, doors, bulkheads and stiffened skins.
• Advance a market disrupting, high-rate production solutions that maintains the same performance of most advanced composite aerostructures flying today at low production rates.
• Expedite net-zero carbon emission goals by 2050 for NASA and the aerospace industry.
• Upskill the current workforce, coordinate with Tribal nations and workforce leaders and use best practices for supporting underrepresented communities, in both Washington and Idaho, to model the next generation of aerospace jobs.
• Center the Inland Northwest as a destination for aerospace suppliers and private investment to support new products and companies within the U.S. aerospace supply chain.

The Center’s application would repurpose a 386,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility on 50 acres adjacent to the Spokane International Airport. This testbed will reflect an inclusive framework designed to expedite the evolution and commercialization of the domestic aerospace supply chain, foster education, attract robust entrepreneurial interest and drive private sector investments into new companies. A complete list of consortium members can be viewed here.

The two-phase Technology Hubs awards are decided by the EDA in coordination with the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. Selection is based on: potential of the region for global competitiveness; participation of industry; equity and inclusion; capacity of workforce; “lab to market” products; and overall impact on U.S. economic and national security. Due to the strong regional collaboration of this consortium, the AAMMC application is said to excel in each of these categories and looks forward to working together to further this opportunity for the Inland Northwest and the nation.