The United States is home to some leading technology hubs that specialize in advanced composite manufacturing. These materials made of strong fibers bound together by plastic polymers are used to build lighter, stronger and more durable products for industries like aerospace, automotive, wind energy and more.
Seattle, Washington
The Seattle area has a long history with advanced composites, especially for the aviation industry. Major local employers like Boeing use composites to make planes lighter and improve fuel efficiency. The region has attracted top talent and investment in materials science research and new production methods. Grants from the state of Washington help fund programs at universities and non-profits focused on innovating with composites.
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama is known as Rocket City for its large community of aerospace engineers centered around NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Those engineering skills have translated to leadership in advanced composites as well. The University of Alabama-Huntsville offers degree programs specialized in materials science and composites manufacturing tailored to meet industry workforce needs. Nearby companies like Hexagon and Toray use advanced composites to supply cutting edge products to sectors like space exploration and automotive racing.
Dayton, Ohio
The Dayton region has deep roots in advanced materials engineering to support its large aerospace sector. As home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the area has attracted specialized companies like Cornerstone Research Group. They use patented processes to design and build custom composite solutions for the military and private companies on the leading edge of aviation technologies. The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) also maintains extensive research facilities to test and evaluate composite materials.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City has a fast-growing composites industry anchored by the University of Utah's materials science program and Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology (CoMET) facility. They partner with regional composite manufacturers like Janicki Industries to offer specialized training and access to prototyping equipment. The Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) also cluster research, education and business across the state to help Utah companies stay competitive in materials and processing technologies like advanced composites.
Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles area has a high concentration of aerospace and automotive companies that utilize advanced composites. They benefit from proximity to academic researchers at institutions like UCLA and UCSB. Shared research labs like the Composites Center for Excellence focus on next-generation materials to improve factors like strength, ease of manufacture and sustainability. Government grants also help fund small business startups applying new composite solutions to industries from electronics to infrastructure.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit's automotive heritage has expanded into leadership in designing and building with lightweight, high-strength composites. GM, Ford and Dodge have materials science divisions in the metro area working to incorporate more composites into mass market cars and trucks to meet fuel efficiency standards. The region also has one of the country's highest concentrations of composites suppliers providing materials and services tailored specifically to auto manufacturing.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, located just outside Knoxville, has helped the region become a center for composite materials research. Their specialized facilities like the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility have some of the country’s most advanced equipment for working with high-performance polymers and fibers used in composites. Nearby small businesses and university partnerships access these resources to innovate manufacturing techniques and novel composite applications.
Rochester, New York
Rochester has a long history of materials innovation through companies like Eastman Kodak and Bausch and Lomb. Today, that expertise translates to leadership in optics, imaging and photonics technology that utilizes specialized composite materials. The region’s Optics, Photonics and Imaging Accelerator helps connect researchers and entrepreneurs to shared lab facilities at the Rochester Institute of Technology and other partners. Together they work to commercialize new composites and related technologies through grants, training programs and business incubators.
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Cincinnati region combines materials expertise with aerospace heritage through companies like GE Aviation, Safran and UTC Aerospace Systems. They manufacture advanced composite components for aircraft engines and electrical systems. Regional workforce training initiatives also focus on composites skills to support manufacturing. The University of Cincinnati and the Department of Energy’s Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation both contribute additional resources as well.
Boston, Massachusetts & New England
New England is home to over a hundred companies specializing in advanced composites materials and applications. Carbon fiber pioneers like Hexcel began in the Northeast U.S. before growing into global leaders. Today, the region maintains its advantage through university-industry partnerships around developing next-generation composites, modeling, non-destructive testing and novel manufacturing methods suited for serial production. Grants from the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America initiative help fund cutting edge collaborative programs.
Mentis Sciences, located in New Hampshire, brings over 25 years of experience to developing innovative solutions and techniques for aerospace manufacturing and processing composites. Their expertise and capabilities position them well to support the region's leadership in advanced composites
