Composite Approach
Composite Approach is a privately held, AS9100D-certified advanced composite contract manufacturer in Redmond, Oregon, founded in 1997. It provides build-to-print production, engineering, tooling, and turn-key assembly of composite structures to aerospace, marine, automotive, and consumer clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersRedmond, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Composite Approach does
Composite Approach is a privately held, full-service advanced composite contract manufacturer founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redmond, Oregon. The company delivers build-to-print production, R&D and manufacturing integration, and engineering services spanning structural design, analysis, design-for-manufacturing, tooling, and turn-key assembly. Its customer base is concentrated in aerospace and defense (including work for Bye Aerospace's eFlyer 2, Lancair Evolution, Kitty Hawk, Davis Aviation's NightHawk, Stratos Aircraft, and Kawak), autonomous marine (Liquid Robotics Wave Glider SV2/SV3, with 150+ units cumulative and 500,000+ nautical miles logged), automotive/RV (EarthCruiser, Nest Caravans, CUBE Campers), and select consumer/architecture applications. The company holds AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications (re-certified through 2029), operates 5-axis CNC capacity via a Thermwood M70 and a HAAS GR 712, and is owner-operated by Brian Harris (Owner and Technical Director) and Holly Harris.
The company monetizes through project-based B2B contract manufacturing and engineering services, with quote-based pricing determined by part specifications, complexity, tooling, certification requirements, and volume. GTM is sales-led, relying on direct enterprise relationships, a portfolio-driven company website, and targeted industry visibility rather than channel partners or consumer marketing. Customers provide designs or specifications and Composite Approach delivers certified, mission-ready composite structures. Notable differentiators include the integration of engineering, tooling, and manufacturing under one roof enabling rapid iteration from concept to flight-ready hardware, and recurring program positions with long-standing customers such as Liquid Robotics (4+ years) and Bye Aerospace (partnership announced December 2025).
Composite Approach has no disclosed institutional funding, no public revenue figures, and operates as a founder/owner-led enterprise. Operating geographies are primarily North America (USA), with all known manufacturing consolidated in Central Oregon. The company actively recruits via a careers page, has invested in capacity expansion (new 2019 Jackpine facility, large-format CNC additions in 2020), and continues to refresh aerospace quality certifications to preserve eligibility for regulated OEM supply chains.
Composite Approach firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Composite Approach
- Legal name
- Composite Approach
- Website
- https://compositeapproach.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Composite Approach is a privately held, AS9100D-certified advanced composite contract manufacturer in Redmond, Oregon, founded in 1997. It provides build-to-print production, engineering, tooling, and turn-key assembly of composite structures to aerospace, marine, automotive, and consumer clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Composite Approach industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advanced Composite Contract Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing (332312)
- SIC
- Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies) (IMABAEAD), FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC), Composite Materials (Fiber-Reinforced Polymers & Continuous Fiber) (IMAAABAH), Outfitting Modules & Skids (Accommodation, Machinery, E-House, Pipe Racks) (IMAJAKAF)
Keywords
Where Composite Approach is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Composite Approach business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Manufacturing: Build-to-print production services for advanced composite structures. Customers provide specifications and Composite Approach delivers certified parts. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with aerospace, defense, marine, and automotive clients.
- Engineering Services: Design consultation, project R&D, and manufacturing integration services. Full turn-key assemblies provided to clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Composite Approach product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Composite Approach provides advanced composite contract manufacturing services including build-to-print production, R&D and tooling, and engineering services for aerospace, defense, space, marine, automotive, and architecture customers. The company produces certified, mission-ready composite structures using carbon fiber fabrication, pre-preg layup, and 5-axis CNC machining under AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality systems.
Product overview
Composite Approach is a full-service advanced composite contract manufacturing facility established in 1997, specializing in the conception, development, fabrication, and production of performance composite products. The company operates three core service offerings: Build-to-Print Production (aerospace-grade manufacturing for commercial aviation, defense, space, and next-gen mobility), R&D and Manufacturing (rapid prototyping from concept to flight-ready hardware), and Engineering Services (structural design, analysis, and DFM). The company does not manufacture its own branded products for resale; instead, it provides contract manufacturing services to clients across aerospace, marine, automotive, RV, and alternative energy industries. Notable client projects include structural composite parts for the Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2 electric aircraft, Wave Glider unmanned marine vehicles for Liquid Robotics, aircraft kits for Lancair Evolution, expedition vehicles for EarthCruiser, and various other composite structures. The company maintains ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certifications and operates from facilities in Central Oregon.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Build to Print Production Aerospace-grade build-to-print composite manufacturing service delivering certified, mission-ready composite structures for commercial aviation, defense, space, and next-gen mobility customers. Customers provide specifications and Composite Approach produces the parts under AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality systems.
- R&D and Manufacturing Turn-key engineering, tooling, and composite manufacturing services under one roof that take customer programs from napkin sketch to flight-ready hardware, enabling rapid cycles from concept to production.
- Engineering Services Practical, build-focused engineering services including structural design, analysis, design-for-manufacturing (DFM), and hands-on composite expertise to help customers de-risk development and accelerate production.
Quantifiable outcome
- 150th Wave Glider produced with 15,786 days at sea and 500,000 nautical miles traveled to-date
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Composite Approach
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Composite Approach technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Composite Approach partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Bye AerospacecoreComposite Approach partnered with Bye Aerospace to build the first structural composite aircraft for the eFlyer 2 all-electric trainer. The collaboration combines Bye Aerospace's electric propulsion design with Composite Approach's carbon-fiber manufacturing expertise to create a commercially viable, zero-emission training aircraft targeting the pilot training market with reduced operating costs and zero-emission electric propulsion.
- Liquid RoboticscoreLong-standing manufacturing partnership for Wave Glider autonomous marine vehicles. Composite Approach manufactures SV2 and SV3 models including full turn-key assemblies. Partnership began over 4 years ago with continued collaboration on R&D and production of the more capable SV3 model.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Composite Approach competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Spirit AeroSystems: Spirit AeroSystems manufactures large composite and metallic aerostructures for major commercial and defense programs, serving a similar buyer base to Composite Approach but as a scaled prime-tier incumbent rather than a niche shop.
- Hexcel Corporation: Hexcel is a leading manufacturer of advanced composite materials and parts for aerospace, space, and industrial markets, sitting upstream of and overlapping with Composite Approach’s carbon-fiber layup and pre-preg manufacturing work.
- Kaman Aerospace Composites: Kaman’s Composites division produces advanced composite parts and assemblies for aerospace and defense customers, overlapping with Composite Approach’s certified composite structures offering as a larger established tier supplier.
- Premium AEROTEC: Premium AEROTEC (now part of Airbus) is a large Tier-1 manufacturer of composite and metal aerostructures for civil aviation, military, and space — comparable to Composite Approach’s build-to-print work but at industrial scale.
- GKN Aerospace: GKN Aerospace is a major Tier-1 supplier of composite and metallic aerostructures, transparently overlapping with Composite Approach’s airframe subassembly work but at far greater scale and global reach.
Direct peers
- TPI Composites: TPI Composites is a contract manufacturer of composite structures primarily for wind energy and aerospace, with a build-to-print service model closely analogous to Composite Approach’s aerospace-grade composite manufacturing offering.
- Janicki Industries: Janicki Industries is a contract manufacturer of advanced composite and metal parts for aerospace, marine, and industrial customers, operating large CNC tooling and layup capabilities similar to Composite Approach’s build-to-print model.
- Molded Fiber Glass Companies: Molded Fiber Glass Companies (MFG) is a composite parts manufacturer serving aerospace, automotive, marine, and industrial markets with build-to-print production services, directly comparable to Composite Approach’s broad end-market contract manufacturing footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Composite Approach social profiles
Digital presenceComposite Approach compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Composite Approach financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Composite Approach leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Composite Approach funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Composite Approach M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Composite Approach
What does Composite Approach do?
Composite Approach provides advanced composite contract manufacturing services including build-to-print production, R&D and tooling, and engineering services for aerospace, defense, space, marine, automotive, and architecture customers. The company produces certified, mission-ready composite structures using carbon fiber fabrication, pre-preg layup, and 5-axis CNC machining under AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality systems.
Is Composite Approach a public or private company?
Composite Approach is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Composite Approach founded?
Composite Approach was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Composite Approach based?
Composite Approach is headquartered in Redmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Composite Approach make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Contract Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are engineering Services.
Who are Composite Approach's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Spirit AeroSystems, Hexcel Corporation, Kaman Aerospace Composites, Premium AEROTEC and GKN Aerospace. Direct peers are TPI Composites, Janicki Industries and Molded Fiber Glass Companies.
Does Composite Approach have an API?
No public API is recorded for Composite Approach.
What industry is Composite Approach in?
Composite Approach's product category is Advanced Composite Contract Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAEAB, Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAEAD, Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies). Its NAICS code is 332312 and its SIC code is 3440.