Name

EMRTC

Legal name

Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC)

Website

https://emrtc.nmt.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energetic Materials Testing and Research Services

NAICS

Explosives Manufacturing (32592), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Detonators, Initiation Systems & Fuzes (IMAEALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fuzes, Primers, Detonators & Initiation Systems (IMABAHAJ), Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ), Emergency Management, Disaster Response & Incident Command Training (EDAOAMAD), EMS Education, Training & Simulation Centers (HLAFANAL)

Keywords

• Explosives research testing
• Energetic materials analysis
• Ballistics testing services
• Blast testing facilities
• First responder training

Headquarters

HQ city

Socorro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Testing Services: EMRTC provides research, development, testing, and analysis of energetic materials for both corporate and government clients. Revenue is generated through contracted testing services, research programs, and evaluation/analysis services.
2. Training Programs: EMRTC provides world-class training in explosives, firearms, and explosive site safety in association with U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. State Department, and other Federal and State agencies. Training includes DHS First Responder Training courses and non-DHS courses such as the High Explosives Principles and Applications Course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EMRTC provides research, development, testing, and analysis services for energetic materials (explosives, propellants, and related substances) at a 40-square-mile field laboratory equipped with over 30 test sites, gun ranges, shock tubes, sled tracks, and rocket engine test stands. The organization also delivers DHS-approved training programs for first responders covering bombing incident response, homemade explosives, and counter-UAS tactics, as well as commercial training courses in high explosives principles and advanced ballistics.

Product overview

EMRTC (Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center) is a research division of New Mexico Tech offering a comprehensive portfolio of testing, evaluation, training, and laboratory services focused on energetic materials. The organization operates a 40-square-mile field laboratory with specialized testing facilities including gun ranges (3000m, 1200m, 1000m), blast test structures, sled track, shock tubes, and rocket test stands. EMRTC provides testing services for ballistics, ordnance, explosives, rocket engines, and curtain wall reactions. The evaluation and analysis services include computer simulations and mine detection evaluation. EMRTC also delivers DHS-approved first responder training programs including RBI, PBI, HME, and counter-UAS training. Laboratory services encompass chemistry analysis, explosives mixing, melt cast processing, and machine shop fabrication. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but rather operates as a service-based research facility providing physical testing and training to government and corporate clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Explosives Research and Testing Services Research, development, testing, and analysis of energetic materials for corporate and government clients, conducted at a 40-square-mile field laboratory with over 30 test sites.
• Ballistics Testing Comprehensive ballistic testing using various gun systems (5.56 NATO to 8 inch howitzer) with instrumentation including flash X-ray, Doppler radar, high-speed cameras, and temperature conditioning units, capable of firing specialized and prototype projectiles at velocities exceeding 2 km/s.
• Curtain Wall Reaction Testing Full-scale four-story curtain wall reaction structure capable of testing up to 20,000 lbs of TNT equivalent blasts at the High Performance Magazine facility, with walls up to 42 feet wide and 45 feet tall and interior floor slabs of 42 feet wide by 12 feet deep.
• 12 Meter Drop Test Structure Drop test facility constructed to NATO STANAG No. 4375 standards, featuring 75 ft towers spaced 50 ft apart and a 24x24 ft impact pad for safety testing of munitions, capable of suspending 5,000 pound weights.
• Non-Ideal Explosives Testing Identification and characterization of non-ideal and improvised explosives including synthesis, small-scale safety testing, scale-up procedures, aging studies, and explosive characterization testing.
• Ordnance Testing Ordnance preparation and testing services in a double-bay facility for explosive loading, rocket motor preparation, assembly of explosive components, and disassembly operations.
• Reusable Blast Test Fixture (RBTF) Full-scale model of aircraft cargo section co-sponsored by the FAA for evaluating aircraft responses to terrorist explosive attacks.
• Sled Track Experiments 300 meter monorail system for dynamic testing of warheads, penetrators, and shaped charges achieving velocities up to 550 m/s (1,800 ft/sec).
• Shock Tube Testing Large diameter shock tube testing (20 ft, 4 ft, and 2 ft diameters) producing blast pressures up to 200 psi for safety and security community testing, with reflected pressures up to 100 psi.
• Computer Simulations State-of-the-art computer software including Cheetah, ConWep, BlastX, finite element analysis, CTH, SPHINX, and LS DYNA for predicting detonation properties and blast effects.
• Mine Detection Evaluation Countermine test site for testing and evaluating technologies for detection and destruction of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.
• SODAR/RASS Sounding System Atmospheric measurement device measuring temperature and wind conditions up to 4-5 km altitude using acoustic and Doppler radar technology.
• Rocket Engine Testing Rocket Test Site Facility with two engine test stands rated for 8,000 lbs and 80,000 lbs thrust, supporting LOX/Kerosene and LOX/LH2 engines, with 3,000 gallon LOX storage and 416 DACS channels.
• Light Gas Gun Testing Single-stage and two-stage light gas gun systems for high-velocity testing exceeding 2 km/s projectile velocities.
• DOT/UN Testing and Classification Department of Transportation and United Nations testing and classification services for hazardous materials.
• Response to Bombing Incidents (RBI) Training DHS-approved training providing first responders with skills to safely respond to terrorist incidents involving explosives and IEDs, available in residential (27 hours) and mobile (4 hours) formats.
• Prevention of Bombing Incidents (PBI) Training DHS-approved training focusing on suicide bomber methodologies and interdiction opportunities across the Nine Phases of a Bombing Incident.
• Initial Law Enforcement Response to Suicide Bombing Attacks (ILERSBA) Training Mobile training for law enforcement officers on recognizing and responding to suicide bomber threats and post-blast scenes.
• Homemade Explosives: Awareness, Recognition, and Response (HME) Training Mobile training on explosive characteristics, homemade explosive precursor materials, IED components, and laboratory indicators.
• Understanding and Planning for School Bombing Incidents (UPSBI) Training Training for first responders on responding to school bomb threats and school bombing incidents, available in mobile and web formats.
• Medical Preparedness and Response to Bombing Incidents (MPRBI) Training Medical response training for first responders addressing injury patterns, triage, and treatment for bombing incidents.
• Drone Assessment and Response Tactics (DART) Training Training for first responders to recognize, assess, and mitigate unmanned aircraft threats, including terrorist use of UAS.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Development (UASPD) Training Training for developing, implementing, and sustaining sUAS programs including FAA regulations and SOP development.
• High Explosives Principles and Applications Course Non-DHS 3-day residential course in Socorro, NM covering explosive chemistry, initiation, detonation theory, shock physics, and air blast effects with laboratory and field demonstrations. Priced at $2,859 per attendee.
• Advanced Ballistics Shooting Course Three-day course covering interior/exterior ballistics, 4DOF drag coefficient solvers, and long-range shooting with Doppler radar.
• Chemistry Laboratories Research laboratories with GC-MS, LC-MS, UV-vis, DSC, IC, FTIR-ATR, particle size analyzer, and electron microscopy for energetic materials analysis.
• Explosives Mixing Facility Processing facility for industrial emulsion explosives, propellants, and plastic-bonded explosives with batch sizes from 5 grams to 1,000 pounds, including test tube mixer, 2 gallon high shear Ross mixer, 5 quart Hobart mixer, and pyrotechnic blender.
• Melt Cast Processing Facility Large-scale melt casting of TNT-based explosives with 5- and 30-gallon kettles and 1,000 pound batch limit.
• Machine Shop 10,000 square-foot machine shop with lathes, mills, grinders, 72-ton hydraulic press, and welding capabilities for experimental fixtures and prototype fabrication.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tests involving over 20,000 pounds of explosives capability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• New Mexico TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMRTC is a major research and training division of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). As one of several research divisions of New Mexico Tech, EMRTC has access to university faculty with experience in a wide variety of scientific and technical disciplines.
• U.S. Department of Homeland SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMRTC provides world-class training in explosives, firearms and explosive site safety in association with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. EMRTC is a leader in providing DHS approved training to qualified First Responders from all over the nation.
• Los Alamos National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Center for Energetic Materials and Energetic Devices (CEMED), an organization that solves practical problems utilizing the skills and facilities of New Mexico Tech/EMRTC, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories.
• Sandia National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CEMED and EMRTC uses CTH hydrodynamic codes from Sandia for computer simulations. EMRTC participates in research with several U.S. National Laboratories.
• Air Force Research LaboratorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rocket Test Site was established in March 1995 through a joint project between EMRTC and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for testing and supporting a LOX/kerosene rocket engine.
• Federal Aviation AdministrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Reusable Blast Test Fixture (RBTF) is co-sponsored by the FAA. EMRTC/FAA scientists use the RBTF in terrorist explosive attack scenarios to evaluate responses of aircraft to energetic materials.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMRTC provides training in association with the U.S. State Department for international first responders and anti-terrorism professionals.
• National Domestic Preparedness ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMT/EMRTC is a proud member of the NDPC, a professional alliance sponsored through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA National Preparedness Directorate. EMRTC is the lead NDPC partner for explosives and firearms, live explosives, and incendiary devices training.
• Playas Training and Research Center (PTRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTRC located in southwestern New Mexico provides training, operational support and research, development, test and evaluation in a real-world environment for First Responders, Border Protection, Urban Warfare/MOUT and Anti-Terrorism professionals.
• Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis (ICASA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICASA is an academia, industry, and government cooperative venture dedicated to studying the behavior, vulnerabilities, and predictability of complex systems.
• Center for Energetic Materials and Energetic Devices (CEMED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEMED solves practical problems utilizing the skills and facilities of New Mexico Tech/EMRTC, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories.
• Rocket Development CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn July 2000 EMRTC partnered with the Rocket Development Company (RDC) to upgrade the 80K test stand to support RDC's 40K LOX/LH2 engine testing. Initial RDC engine testing began in December 2000.
• BORSEC - Border Security CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBorder Security Center for Research, Education, Training & Technical Assistance established at New Mexico Tech to work closely with Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement authorities to provide programs addressing violence linked to drug trafficking. Partially funded via a multi-year Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
• IERAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMRTC affiliate organization providing specialized services and research in energetics.
• METTOPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMRTC affiliate organization providing specialized services and research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Leidos (Dynetics): Defense engineering firm with weapons effects, hypersonics, and propulsion test capabilities that competes for the same DoD/DHS energetic-materials and counter-terrorism work that EMRTC performs.
• National Energetics Research (a subsidiary of U.S. Ordnance): Private energetics manufacturer and tester serving defense and commercial ammunition markets — competes for propellant/formulation work that EMRTC supports through its explosives mixing facility.

Direct peers

• Sandia National Laboratories: DOE national laboratory and CEMED partner of EMRTC that conducts energetic materials research, weapons testing, and computer simulation work directly overlapping EMRTC's core RDT&E activities.
• Applied Research Associates (ARA): Employee-owned engineering and scientific services firm providing blast, weapons effects, and energetic materials testing for DoD and DHS — direct overlap with EMRTC's testing and first-responder training offerings.
• Los Alamos National Laboratory: DOE national laboratory that supplies EMRTC the SPHINX code and is a CEMED partner; conducts parallel energetic materials, explosives, and propellants R&D for national security customers.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI): Independent nonprofit R&D organization performing energetic materials, blast, fire, and propulsion testing for defense and commercial customers using large-scale test facilities comparable to EMRTC's.
• Air Force Research Laboratory: DOD research lab with which EMRTC co-built the Rocket Test Site Facility in 1995; covers overlapping propulsion, high-velocity impact, and warhead testing capability sets.
• U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center: U.S. Army R&D organization performing energetics, munitions chemistry, and counter-WMD testing for DoD — closely parallel mission to EMRTC's ordnance and non-ideal explosives testing work.
• Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division: Department of the Navy's center of excellence for energetics, propellants, and pyrotechnics — directly comparable test and evaluation mission for DoD energetics customers.

Broad incumbents

• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large nonprofit applied R&D provider with deep federal energetics and defense testing programs, serving as a much larger, multi-domain incumbent competitor for government testing and training contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emrtc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 EMRTC