Karman Space & Defense Acquires CRG’s MG Resins

Karman Space & Defense, backed by Dallas-based private equity firm Trive Capital, has partnered with CRG to acquire the MG Resin family of technologies formerly marketed through Mach 5 Materials. The acquisition of MG Resins represents a significant expansion of Karman’s core competencies in integrated composite systems for space and defense applications and assures their leadership in the carbon/carbon market.

CRG developed the patented MG family of resins to address the growing need for ultra-high-temp materials with higher char yields, improved processability, and reduced cycle times. CRG designed an innovative solution that enables the production of best-in-class, high-strength carbon-carbon parts at temperatures above 1200 °C.

Karman Space & Defense is one of the largest independently owned suppliers of mission-critical flight hardware and complex sub-assemblies to the space, missile, and hypersonic markets. They provide design and engineering, precision machining, large part forming, high-temperature and structural composite material processing, and sub-assembly services, while actively adding new capabilities in collaboration with customers.

Pat Hood, CEO of CRG, commented, “We are excited to partner with Karman and believe their set of differentiated capabilities, capacity and talented team makes them the right strategic partner to deliver the MG Resin value proposition to customers across the space, missile, defense and hypersonic supply chains. We believe joining forces with Karman will accelerate the commercialization of carbon-carbon technologies, and we look forward to creating value for customers.”

Read the press release here.

CRG a partner in developing space technologies

NASA has selected 17 U.S. companies for partnerships to mature industry-developed space technologies for the Moon and beyond through the Space Technology Mission Directorate’s 2020 Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity.

CRG will evaluate a 3-D printing method that makes use of slurry-based thermoset resins to fabricate thermal protective systems. CRG will partner with NASA centers to test and evaluate the material’s performance in flight-relevant environments, utilizing NASA facilities and experts at Johnson and Ames.

Other companies involved in these space technologies include Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

Read more here (NASA press release)
Business Insider article
Yahoo News article

CRG receives $7M Missile Defense contract

High-temp carbon-carbon composites

Cornerstone Research Group is under contract with the Missile Defense Agency to manufacture high-temperature, carbon-carbon composite materials that enable advanced hypersonic technologies. This $7 million contract was made possible by provisions Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) included in the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and in FY 2020 Defense Appropriations.

Congressman Turner said, “This contract between Cornerstone Research Group and the Missile Defense Agency will reduce costs, increase production, and enhance performance of maturing high-speed platforms required to counter emerging threats from our nation’s near-peer adversaries.” Read the press release here.

High-Temperature Composites Center Formed

A reentry vehicle requiring high-temperature materials that resist extreme heat and burn-off

In July of 2019, CRG established its new High-Temperature Composites Center (HTC). This new center lets CRG focus on applications for its signature high-temp resin, MG resin.

The HTC’s vision is to support carbon/carbon (C/C) manufacturing with materials and process innovation, expand the national industrial base for C/C production, and reduce cost and lead time for C/C parts production.

The HTC team includes materials scientists, chemists, aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers and chemical engineers led by HTC Vice President, Michael Rauscher. Read more about the HTC here.