What Southwest Composites does

Southwest Composite Works is a B2B custom carbon fiber and composite parts manufacturer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company traces its origin to 1994 when founder John Groth established Southwest Pattern Works focused on mold design and production, and was reorganized under its current name in 2014 to specialize in carbon fiber and advanced composites. Operating from a 15,000-square-foot facility at 509 General Chennault Street SE, the firm designs, engineers, prototypes, and produces composite components for customers in aerospace, medical, recreation, and industrial sectors, and has completed more than 1,700 projects across 10+ industries.

The firm's technical capabilities span the full composite manufacturing stack under one roof: compression molding with quasi-isotropic layup, autoclave molding (28" W x 94" L x 24" chamber with temperature control within 1°F), vacuum bag molding, bladder molding, oven curing in two chamber sizes (36"x24"x6" and 48"x48"x72"), and 3-axis CNC machining calibrated for composite tooling and finishing. Engineering services include CAD modeling, FEA analysis, material selection, feasibility studies, and reverse engineering. The firm holds ITAR compliance (achieved 2022) and produces a proprietary branded product, The Sherpa, a compression-molded carbon fiber backpack stay system marketed to outdoor recreation brands.

Southwest Composite Works generates revenue primarily through custom part manufacturing contracts combining non-recurring engineering (NRE) fees (minimum approximately $10,000 per new product), tooling charges, and per-part production pricing. Carbon fiber repair services are priced between $350 and $650 per item with typical two-week turnaround. Go-to-market is direct B2B sales with a consultative, engineering-led motion supported by dedicated Composite Sales/Business Development Managers targeting aerospace, recreation, medical, and industrial verticals; the firm also maintains content marketing, case studies, and partnerships with New Mexico MEP and the ACMA High Performance Council. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped without external institutional funding.

Name

Southwest Composites

Legal name

Southwest Composite Works

Website

https://swcompositeworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southwest Composite Works is an Albuquerque, NM-based custom carbon fiber and composite parts manufacturer serving aerospace, medical, recreation, and industrial clients. It integrates design, prototyping, tooling, multiple curing processes, and CNC machining under one roof, plus a proprietary Sherpa backpack stay product.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Composite Manufacturing

NAICS

Textile Product Mills (314)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radomes & Composite/Aero Protective Structures (IMABAEAG), Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies) (IMABAEAD), Aerospace & Defense Technical Textiles (Ballistic/Parachute/Radar-Absorbing/Composites Reinforcement) (IMAOADAF)

Keywords

• Custom carbon fiber manufacturing
• Composite parts fabrication
• Aerospace composite solutions
• Carbon fiber repair services
• Prototype composite machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Carbon Fiber Part Manufacturing: Design, prototyping, tooling, and full-scale production of custom carbon fiber and composite parts for aerospace, medical, recreation, and industrial applications. Revenue is generated through NRE (non-recurring engineering) fees, tooling charges, and per-part production pricing. New composite product development requires a minimum NRE investment of approximately $10,000. Carbon fiber repair services are quoted individually based on complexity.
2. Prototyping and Product Development Services: Functional prototype development, design refinement, feasibility studies, and ROM pricing for composite programs. Supports companies from early concept through production-ready designs including CAD modeling, material selection, FEA analysis, and reverse engineering.
3. Carbon Fiber Repair Services: Structural carbon fiber repairs for bike frames and other composite equipment. Typical repair costs range from $350 to $650 for bike frames, with other repairs quoted on a case-by-case basis. Turnaround time of 2 weeks for most repairs.
4. The Sherpa - Carbon Fiber Backpack Stay (Proprietary Product): Sale of The Sherpa, a proprietary 100% carbon fiber backpack stay system for backcountry hunters, ultralight backpackers, and pack manufacturers. Manufactured in-house using compression molded technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Southwest Composite Works (SWC) is a custom carbon fiber and advanced composite parts manufacturer based in Albuquerque, NM, operating from a 15,000 sq ft facility. The company designs, prototypes, fabricates, machines, and repairs composite components for clients in aerospace, medical, recreation, industrial, and machining sectors. Beyond contract manufacturing, SWC also offers select proprietary products such as the Sherpa backpack stay.

Product overview

Southwest Composite Works offers a comprehensive suite of custom carbon fiber composite manufacturing services and products. The core offering includes Custom Carbon Fiber Parts manufacturing, supported by Design & Engineering services and Product Development & Prototyping modules. Manufacturing capabilities span multiple processes including Compression Molding, Composite Manufacturing (autoclave, vacuum bag, oven, bladder), and Precision Machining & Tooling. Additional services include Carbon Fiber Repair under the Forged Fiber brand. The company also produces its own branded product, The Sherpa, a proprietary carbon fiber backpack stay system. All services are delivered from a single U.S.-based facility in Albuquerque, NM, with capabilities ranging from prototype to full-scale production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Sherpa: Carbon fiber backpack stay system - a next-generation solution designed for backcountry hunters, ultralight backpackers, and companies developing lighter pack systems. Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber using compression molded technology.

Products and services

• Custom Composite Part Manufacturing
• Carbon Fiber and Composite Repair Services
• The Sherpa Backpack Stay

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% lighter than aluminum with 8x the strength (The Sherpa backpack stay)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• High Performance Council (HPC) of the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA)coreOthers · 1 January 2025SWC became a member of the High Performance Council of ACMA in 2025, gaining a seat at the table for the composites industry. This membership provides access to industry knowledge, networking opportunities, and strategic influence, helping SWC maintain a competitive edge while shaping the future of high-performance composites.
• Sandia National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017SWC deepened its collaboration with New Mexico's National Laboratories including Sandia National Lab since 2017, reinforcing SWC's commitment to precision engineering, advanced materials research, and high-quality domestic manufacturing. The partnership built on a strong foundation of trust and technical expertise.
• New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (M.E.P.)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSWC partners with New Mexico M.E.P. to participate in hands-on workshops and training opportunities focused on LEAN manufacturing, continuously improving processes, efficiency, and quality across all areas of production. The MEP provides operational guidance and training support to help SWC scale and improve manufacturing operations.
• New Mexico Outdoor Recreation DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWC works with the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division, participating in events and conversations that strengthen the state's outdoor recreation community. Previously engaged in programs supporting small outdoor recreation businesses, gaining mentorship, networking opportunities, and insights to help grow the industry in New Mexico.
• BladewerxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBladewerx, a leader in radiation monitoring and protection technologies, partnered with SWC to expand machining and production capabilities for specialized radiation shielding components. SWC supports Bladewerx across diverse materials (plastics, composites, boron-infused plastics) delivering precision-machined components for prototypes and production-scale assemblies. Built on shared values of responsiveness, adaptability, and innovation between the two New Mexican companies.
• Hyperlite Mountain GearminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHyperlite Mountain Gear is an outdoor pack manufacturer that incorporates SWC's proprietary Sherpa carbon fiber backpack stay system into their ultralight backpack products. The partnership demonstrates SWC's ability to co-develop performance components with recreation equipment brands.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Strongwell Corporation: U.S.-based composites manufacturer producing pultruded and molded composite parts for industrial, infrastructure, and commercial applications. Comparable to SWC as a U.S. custom composites manufacturer with an integrated manufacturing capability serving industrial and commercial customers.
• TPI Composites: Custom composites manufacturer producing large-scale composite structures for wind energy, transportation, and aerospace customers. Comparable to SWC as a custom carbon fiber parts manufacturer serving aerospace and industrial OEMs with engineered composite solutions, though at much larger volume scale.
• Plasan: Aerospace and defense composites manufacturer specializing in complex composite parts and assemblies for military and commercial aviation. Comparable to SWC in producing aerospace-grade composite structures and assemblies using autoclave and other advanced curing processes.
• Creative Composites Group: Manufacturer of custom fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite products for industrial, infrastructure, and commercial markets. Comparable to SWC as a U.S. custom composites manufacturer with similar vertical-integration and engineering-to-production workflow.
• Rock West Composites: Custom carbon fiber composite parts manufacturer offering design, engineering, prototyping, and production for aerospace, medical, recreation, and industrial customers. Closest direct peer to SWC — same end markets, similar boutique concept-to-production service model, comparable product categories.

Emerging players

• Axiom Materials: Developer and manufacturer of advanced composite materials and parts including carbon fiber prepregs and engineered laminates for aerospace and industrial applications. Comparable to SWC in aerospace composite materials expertise with partial overlap in custom aerospace parts.

Others

• Composites One: North American distributor of composite materials and supplies serving fabricators and manufacturers across aerospace, marine, recreation, and industrial markets. Adjacent/ecosystem connection to SWC as a materials supplier relationship typical for custom composites manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• Hexcel Corporation: Global aerospace and industrial composites manufacturer with extensive carbon fiber reinforcement and prepreg offerings. Comparable to SWC because it serves the same aerospace and industrial customer base with composite structures and layup materials, but at vastly larger scale across multiple product lines.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Carbon Fiber & Composites: Vertically integrated carbon fiber and composites producer serving aerospace, automotive, industrial, and sports markets with both materials and finished parts. Comparable to SWC in carbon fiber composite manufacturing capability and aerospace/industrial exposure, but operates at vastly greater scale with upstream fiber production.
• Toray Advanced Composites: Manufacturer of thermoset and thermoplastic composite materials and parts serving aerospace, space, industrial, sports/recreation, and medical markets. Directly comparable to SWC in end-market mix (aerospace + recreation) and in producing custom engineered composite parts using autoclave and compression molding processes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/swcompositeworks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwest-composite-works-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/southwestcomposites
• Xx.com/swcomposite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Southwest Composites