What ACT Aerospace does

ACT Aerospace (legal entity Applied Composite Technology Aerospace, LLC) is a vertically integrated aerospace and defense manufacturer specializing in autoclave-cured advanced composite structures. Founded in 1985 by Roland J. Christensen in Fayette, Utah, the company relocated to a 350,000+ ft² campus in Gunnison, Utah, including 104,000 ft² of dedicated aerospace manufacturing space and 50,000 ft² pre-staged for new program growth. Core technical capabilities include large-format autoclave curing (current capacity 12' x 40' with a 12' x 50' unit coming online in 2026), 5-axis CNC machining, filament winding, laser ply placement, and in-house Level III Non-Destructive Inspection under NADCAP accreditation for composites, NDI, and measurement & inspection.

The company serves as a Tier 2/3 direct supplier to major aerospace and defense OEMs including Boeing (787 Dreamliner), Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin (military rotorcraft), Bell/Textron (V-280 Valor and other military helicopters), Gulfstream Aerospace (business jets, 2021 Supplier of the Year), Honda Aircraft Company (HondaJet), L3Harris Technologies, and Textron Aviation. ACT provides full lifecycle composite part services spanning part design, tooling design, manufacturing planning, fabrication, testing, and inspection, supported by AS9100D, ISO 9001, ITAR, and NIST 800-171 certifications.

Revenue is generated through negotiated long-term supply contracts on aerospace and defense programs, with hardware sales of custom-manufactured composite components priced via quote-based B2B agreements. The company is privately held and was acquired by The Thermal Group in February 2025, joining Alexander Machine & Tool and George Industries under a diversified manufacturing platform with over a century of combined thermal-management-focused mission-critical manufacturing experience.

Name

ACT Aerospace

Legal name

Applied Composite Technology Aerospace, LLC

Website

https://actaero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ACT Aerospace is a vertically integrated U.S. manufacturer of autoclave-cured advanced composite structures for military rotorcraft and commercial aircraft programs. It supplies composite components and full-service tooling, fabrication, and inspection to Boeing, Sikorsky, Bell, Gulfstream, HondaJet, L3Harris, and Textron.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Composite Structures Manufacturing

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Primary Airframe Structures (Fuselage, Wing, Empennage) (IMABAEAA), Rotorcraft Airframes, Structures & Composites (IMABABAD), Nacelles, Fairings & Aerodynamic Structures (IMABAEAE)

Keywords

• Advanced composite structures
• Aerospace composite manufacturing
• Carbon fiber components
• Autoclave cured composites
• Aerospace tooling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gunnison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aerospace Component Manufacturing: Design, manufacturing, and delivery of advanced composite structures for aerospace and defense applications. Revenue is generated through long-term supply contracts with major aerospace OEMs for both military and commercial programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

ACT Aerospace designs, manufactures, and delivers advanced composite structures — primarily autoclave-cured carbon fiber components — for the aerospace and defense industry. Operating as a vertically integrated supplier, the company performs tool design, part fabrication, assembly, testing, and non-destructive inspection in-house at its Gunnison, Utah facility, supplying major OEMs including Boeing, Sikorsky, Bell Helicopter, Gulfstream, HondaJet, L3Harris, and Textron Aviation.

Product overview

ACT Aerospace is a precision aerospace and defense manufacturing company offering advanced composite structures as its core product. The company operates as a vertically integrated manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of services including Part Design, Assembly Design, Tool Design, Manufacturing Planning, Testing, Quality Inspection, Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI), Ultrasonic Inspection, and Through Transmission Ultrasonic Inspection. The company specializes in autoclave cured composite structures and serves major aerospace OEMs including Boeing, Sikorsky, Bell Helicopter, Gulfstream, HondaJet, L3 Harris, and Textron Aviation. Manufacturing is performed at a 150,000+ ft² facility in Gunnison, Utah, with capabilities spanning CNC machining, filament winding, autoclave curing, and water jet cutting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Composite Structures Manufacturing
• Part Design Engineering Services
• Assembly Design Services
• Composite Tool Design Services
• Manufacturing Planning Services
• Composite Testing Services
• Quality Inspection Services
• Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) Services

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Thermal GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT Aerospace is part of The Thermal Group, which also includes Alexander Machine & Tool and George Industries. The Thermal Group acquired ACT Aerospace in February 2025. Together, the companies have over a century of combined experience in design, fabrication, and assembly of mission-critical solutions based on thermal management principles.
• Alexander Machine & ToolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of The Thermal Group portfolio of companies focused on precision manufacturing solutions.
• George IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of The Thermal Group portfolio of companies focused on precision manufacturing solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Spirit AeroSystems: One of the largest Tier-1 aerostructures manufacturers globally, producing composite fuselage sections, wing components, and integrated structures for Boeing, Airbus, and defense primes. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated composite aerostructures supplier serving the same OEM customer base as ACT.
• Premium AEROTEC (Strata): Produces large composite fuselage sections and aerostructures, primarily for Airbus. Comparable on large-part composite manufacturing capabilities and Tier-1 supplier positioning with major airframers.
• Velocity Composites: UK-based aerospace composites manufacturer supplying composite kits and parts to OEMs including Boeing and GKN. Comparable on aerospace composite manufacturing focus and OEM-supplier model, though primarily serves the European aftermarket.
• Cutting Dynamics Inc. U.S. Tier-2/3 manufacturer of composite aerostructures and assemblies for commercial and military aircraft platforms. Comparable on advanced composite manufacturing, mid-sized supplier profile, and military rotorcraft exposure.
• Triumph Group: Aerospace structures and systems supplier producing composite and metallic components for Boeing, Airbus, and defense OEMs. Comparable on aerostructures manufacturing, multi-OEM customer model, and aftermarket/MRO exposure.
• GKN Aerospace (Melrose Industries): Major composite aerostructures manufacturer known for producing the F-35 wings and other large defense/composite assemblies. Comparable on composite technology platform, defense customer overlap, and Tier-1 supplier role.
• Kaman Aerospace (Kaman Corp): Manufactures composite and metallic aerostructures, subassemblies, and helicopter components including rotor blades. Comparable on composite manufacturing for aerospace/defense customers and similar mid-sized Tier-1/2 supplier footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Safran (Aerospace Composites): Major aerospace group producing composite nacelles, engine components, and aerostructures across its Safran Aerostructures and Safran Landing Systems divisions. Comparable on advanced composite manufacturing and broad OEM customer base.
• Northrop Grumman (Aerostructures): Large defense prime operating Aerostructures, Mission Systems, and other divisions that internally manufacture composite assemblies for programs like B-21 and F-35. Comparable on composite manufacturing, defense customer concentration, and ITAR-regulated operations.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aerospace: Manufactures composite wing components for the Boeing 787 and other aerospace platforms as part of a much larger industrial conglomerate. Comparable on composite aerostructures and Boeing supplier relationship, though operates as a broad industrial incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/act-aerospace

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACT Aerospace