Overcast Innovations LLC, of Spokane, has entered into a strategic partnership with Armstrong World Industries Inc. through which the Pennsylvania-based maker of wall and ceiling systems will market and distribute Overcast's modular ceiling components. 

The partnership incorporates Overcast Innovations' integrated, modular ceiling components into Armstrong’s family of ceiling products, expanding the Spokane startup’s exposure within the industry nationwide, says Matt Wegworth, vice president of McKinstry's corporate venture arm, Dawnson Ventures. Overcast is a subsidiary of the energy and efficiency system designer and contractor. 

Armstrong also acquired a minority interest in Overcast. Wegworth declines to disclose the value of Armstrong's investment. 

“Having this partnership with Armstrong will be super impactful to helping spread what Overcast is trying to do in the market,” he says. Overcast will benefit from Armstrong's sales and marketing expertise.

Overcast Innovations is a 4-year-old startup that engineers and manufactures ceiling panel and tubing systems dubbed Cloud and Spline that connect multiple building systems and technologies. The streamlined panels are built before being delivered to a construction site, reducing the number of specialized workers on construction sites and eliminating waste. 

Overcast has 15 employees and is located at 9470 W. 21st, north of Spokane International Airport, in a recently completed, $18.6 million manufacturing facility. Overcast occupies 20,000 square feet of space and manufactures its products there. McKinstry’s fabrication shop occupies the remaining 48,000 square feet.                                 

Armstrong is a 160-year-old company that manufactures ceiling and wall systems. It has about 3,000 employees and 16 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. In 2022, it reported $1.2 billion in revenue. 

Overcast’s five-person sales team is now working to educate Armstrong’s sales regarding Cloud and Spline, so Armstrong can introduce the product to its roster of project owners, architects, and contractors, Wegworth says. 

Overcast will continue to manufacture its products here and is forecasting growth that will allow the company to add staff to its manufacturing facility, he says. Depending on its growth, the partnership also could include the manufacturing of Overcast’s products in Armstrong facilities, he says.  

“We have a lot of expectations for growth,” he says. “Both in our sales organizations and our engineering and manufacturing as the orders start to build.” 

The two companies have spent the last 15 months getting to know each other, says Wegworth. Before inking the partnership, Armstrong assisted in the development of Overcast's next planned product, a modular grid platform that integrates seamlessly into wall-to-wall ceiling grids, he says. That product will launch next month, he says.