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Materials Innovation Technologies

MaterialsFletcher, NC, USAFounded 2004· One of 961 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops proprietary 3-DEP and CO-DEP processes for manufacturing complex-shaped performance composite parts using reclaimed carbon fiber and other advanced materials

CEO / Founder
Jim Stike
Team Size
1-10
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$8.57M
Latest Round
Grant

Technology & Products

Key Products

3-DEP process; CO-DEP process; Carbon fiber reclamation services; Composite part manufacturing

Technological Advantage

Proprietary 3-DEP process achieves net-shape forming with reduced scrap and cycle times compared to traditional composite manufacturing, protected by patents and 20+ years of materials engineering expertise

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Reduces raw material costs and scrap through net-shape forming with 3-DEP process, cuts cycle times and labor through automation, and enables customization of component properties by combining materials like carbon fiber with aramid fibers

How They Differentiate

Focus on reclaimed carbon fiber and proprietary 3-DEP process for net-shape composite parts, unlike traditional composite manufacturers using manual layup or injection molding

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Fortune 100 companies, national labs, university consortiums, US governmental agencies in aerospace, automotive, defense, mass transit, and recreational sporting goods

Industry Verticals

Aerospace; Automotive; Defense; Mass Transit; Recreational Sporting Goods; Marine; Medical

Competitors

Central Standard; Alberts Biomechanics; Element Product Design

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

The company has 6 employees, received a Department of Energy SBIR Phase I grant of $100,000 in August 2005 for proof of concept, and has a total SBIR/STTR funding of $2,858,699 with a recent Phase II award of $499,159 for 'Long Fiber Thermoplastic Composites from Recycled Carbon Fiber'.

Major Milestones

Founded in 2004; Developed 3-DEP process for composite manufacturing; Partnered with IACMI on carbon fiber project; Secured SBIR grants for natural fiber composites research

https://www.emergingmit.com

Why this company matters

Materials Innovation Technologies occupies a niche position in additive manufacturing by focusing on reclaimed carbon fiber and net-shape forming. Its proprietary 3-DEP (3-Dimensional Engineered Preform) and CO-DEP processes target the gap between traditional composite layup and injection molding, offering a way to produce complex composite parts with reduced raw material cost and waste.

The core technology is the 3-DEP process, a form of big area additive manufacturing for composite parts. It uses reclaimed carbon fiber and other advanced materials to create net-shape preforms, which are then consolidated. The CO-DEP process enables combining materials such as carbon fiber with aramid fibers, allowing customization of component properties. The company also offers carbon fiber reclamation services and contract composite part manufacturing.

Target customers include Fortune 100 companies, national labs, university consortiums, and US government agencies in aerospace, automotive, defense, mass transit, recreational sporting goods, marine, and medical sectors. A key partnership is with IACMI (The Composites Institute), focused on carbon fiber projects. The company has received multiple SBIR/STTR grants, including a Phase II award for long fiber thermoplastic composites from recycled carbon fiber.

The company's strategic moat rests on its patented 3-DEP process and over 20 years of materials engineering expertise. Its differentiation lies in using reclaimed fiber to lower material costs while achieving net-shape forming, unlike traditional composite manufacturers relying on manual layup or injection molding. With only six employees and $8.57M in total funding, the open question is whether it can scale production to meet demand from Fortune 100 customers without significant additional capital.