Two North Idaho composite manufacturers have been selected to participate in a government-led program geared toward preparing companies to compete in military and commercial markets.

The selectees, Post Falls-based Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC and Coeur d’Alene-based Continuous Composites will participate in a 10-week T3 Transition Accelerator program in Dayton, Ohio. The program will provide intensive training for companies that are developing materials and manufacturing processes focused on low-cost, reusable, and minimal-maintenance structures, engines, and sensors in drones and unmanned spacecraft.

The T3 Transition Accelerator program is led by the Wright Brothers Institute, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Small Business Innovative Research Program Office, and The Entrepreneurs Center of Dayton. 

Ten small companies—defined as such by the Air Force because they have 500 or fewer employees—from around the U.S. have been selected for the 2020 program.

David Leach, director of business development for ATC, says the company already has a solid commercial customer base and now is looking to expand into other markets. In particular, ATC is exploring defense applications for its technology, but he says the program could open doors to mass transit, marine, energy-related, and medicine markets as well.

During the 10-week session, participating companies will “define what is your tech, its value, and discover other markets where it could be applicable,” Leach says, adding that the Air Force is interested particularly in technology that has multimarket applications.

ATC manufactures continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites for the aerospace industry. It has about 150 employees. 

“We’re looking at where our tech can bring them benefit,” Leach says.

The accelerator is the first phase of the Small Business Innovation Research program, during which companies will explore the potential their new technologies hold. They will receive coaching, participate in Air Force-led training labs, and interact with other companies in the program, Leach says.

Along with the training, the companies will receive coaching intended to prepare them for applying to the second phase of the research program, in which the companies will focus more on developing the products and have the opportunity to receive funding. The second phase of the program has up to $1.5 million in financial awards.

At the end of the 10 weeks, companies will participate in a Demo Day, or what Leach refers to as a Shark Tank-like day, in which the companies will present to the Air Force, other companies, and potential investors. Demo Day will be held May 8 in Dayton.

Tyler Alvarado, CEO of Continuous Composites, says in a press release, “The timing of this program is synergistic as we evaluate additional strategic partnerships specifically focused on the commercialization of our (technology) to both commercial and military applications.”

Continuous Composites is a startup company based in Coeur d’Alene that is developing continuous fiber 3D printing technology and software. As of last September, it had 30 employees. 

“In addition to formalizing relationships with our strategic partners, we are now working with stakeholders to pursue nondilutive funding, further enabling the rapid advancement of our CF3D technology,” Alvarado says.

Nondilutive funding is financing through which a recipient doesn’t give up ownership of the company.

This will be Continuous Composites’ third time working with the Air Force Research Lab, according to the release. 

Most recently, in 2018, the company was awarded a subcontract through Lockheed Martin Skunkworks to manufacture a component wing structure for an aerial system as part of a program to develop a low-cost, reusable, and eventually expendable unmanned aircraft.