Key Takeaways:
- New manufacturing techniques make composites cheaper and more accessible.
- Composites promise lighter, stronger consumer products and advanced aerospace components.
- Major companies are testing composites to replace traditional metals.
What Happened?
New manufacturing techniques are making composites—materials made from a variety of fibers embedded in plastics—cheaper and more accessible. Historically, composites like carbon-fiber have been limited to high-cost applications such as aerospace due to their labor-intensive manufacturing process.
However, startups such as Arris Composites, 9T Labs, and Orbital Composites are revolutionizing production methods. These companies have developed processes to quickly and inexpensively create composite parts, enabling their use in a wide range of products from running shoes to aerospace components. For example, Arris’s technology is being tested by Airbus to replace metal brackets in planes, and Orbital Composites has contracts with the U.S. military for satellite and drone components.
Why It Matters?
This shift to composites could transform multiple industries. Composites offer lighter and stronger alternatives to metal, significantly impacting transportation, consumer electronics, and even military applications. Imagine lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles, durable smartphones, and advanced aerospace components—all possible due to these new materials.
“Composites are often able to perform just as well as high-strength metal parts, but with a fraction of the weight,” says Jeff Sloan, publisher of Composites World. This transition also mitigates geopolitical risks tied to metal supply chains, such as those involving titanium from Russia and China. Companies like ST Engineering are already experimenting with composite bolts for airplanes, showing promising initial results.
What’s Next?
Expect more consumer products and industrial applications to incorporate composites. Short-term, you’ll see lighter and more durable consumer electronics and advanced military hardware. Long-term, the automotive and aerospace industries will likely see the most significant transformations, reducing weight and improving efficiency.
Arris is in talks to use composites in virtual reality headsets, and 9T Labs is eyeing bicycle manufacturing. However, widespread adoption will depend on overcoming consumer perceptions associating metal with quality and proving long-term durability through rigorous testing. Investors should watch for announcements from key players like Airbus and U.S. military contractors, as these will signal broader market adoption and potential investment opportunities.
