Revolutionizing Gas Storage: Infinite Composites Cuts Weight by 90% with Carbon Fiber Containers

Infinite Composites Technologies (ICT) uses carbon fiber material to manufacture patented, linerless containers that store all types of gasses at pressures up to 3,000 pounds per square inch. Founded in 2009 by Matt Villarreal and Michael Tate, the company uses a computer program that pulls the carbon material off spools, covers it in a special resin and wraps it in a precise design. The solution produces containers that do not have steel or plastic lining inside, reducing weight by 90 percent. ICT operates with about a dozen employees at their high-tech factory in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

"The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance has been a true partner in our growth. We look forward to their involvement as we expand, grow, and continue to innovate."  —Michael Tate, Owner

Since its inception, Infinite Composite Technologies has enjoyed a rapid rise in business success. The company continued to grow by producing increasingly high-tech containers for compressed natural gas-fueled vehicles. ICT soon began to manufacture larger containers, like the pressurized vessels hauled on larger tanker trucks. Additional demand for their industry-leading technology soon led Villarreal and Tate to re-evaluate their manufacturing processes and production flow. For advice, they contacted Curtis Evans, a manufacturing extension agent with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, part of the MEP National Network. Evans had worked with ICT on several projects and enjoyed a solid relationship with the owners.

Evans met with Villarreal and Tate to map out options for the company’s growing manufacturing demands. They determined that a new, flexible, and more efficient factory flow was necessary. Evans called on Rajesh Krishnamurthy, an applications engineer with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, to model all of ICT’s production systems with computer software. That allowed the group to change different variables without actually shifting physical pieces on the factory floor. The computerized work determined peak efficiencies while maintaining sufficient flexibility to meet future demands. ICT invested in new equipment and made improvements that contributed to annual cost savings. With increased production capacity, ICT is exploring new markets like the aerospace industry. Thanks in part to the new process flows, Evans was able to help ICT obtain its ISO 9001 certification, an important step in capturing aerospace work. The company added several new, high-wage jobs to keep pace with the increase in sales.

Results

• $500,000 in new annual sales
• $250,000 in annual cost savings
• $300,000 in new equipment investments
• 6 new high-wage jobs
• New work in the aerospace industry

Could your company benefit from assistance with production flow? Contact your local MEP Center for more information.

 

The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance is the official representative of the MEP National Network™ in Oklahoma. The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.