#United States #Huntsville #Auburn University #Continuous Composites #CF3D

Auburn University Enhances Manufacturing with CF3D Technology

Auburn University has made significant strides in its advanced manufacturing capabilities by recently acquiring a cutting-edge CF3D Enterprise® cell from Continuous Composites. This investment underscores the university's commitment to advancing next-generation composite manufacturing technologies, particularly within the context of the rapidly growing hypersonic development ecosystem centered in Huntsville, Alabama.

The newly installed CF3D Enterprise cell is now a key feature at Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus. This location is integral to Auburn's research initiatives, enabling the university to play a crucial role in fighting some of the most pressing challenges faced in the aerospace and defense sectors. With the capability to manufacture high-performance continuous-fiber composite structures, the CF3D Enterprise is poised to propel Auburn's research programs to new heights.

Located strategically in Cummings Research Park, just minutes from Redstone Arsenal's Gate 9, the Auburn campus is enveloped by a dense network of defense contractors, aerospace partners, and stakeholders focused on national priority programs. The facility is home to the Auburn University Applied Research Institute, which includes a range of configurable laboratories, simulation environments, secure research areas, and dedicated workspaces for student researchers. This infrastructure serves as a vital link between the university's research objectives and the dynamic needs of the surrounding defense community.

From the perspective of Auburn's Huntsville team, the deployment of the CF3D Enterprise cell represents not merely a technological upgrade, but a strategic enhancement. This integration is aimed at aligning with the region’s burgeoning focus on hypersonics, where advanced composite architectures are essential for optimizing thermal performance and structural efficiency. Furthermore, this initiative strengthens Auburn's collaboration with Continuous Composites on hypersonic projects and fosters deeper engagement with various government and industrial partners in defense.

Steve Starner, CEO of Continuous Composites, emphasized the significance of Auburn's investment: “Huntsville continues to be the gravitational center of hypersonic development in the United States, and Auburn is investing where it matters. The addition of a CF3D Enterprise cell gives Auburn and its partners a modern composite manufacturing capability and a toolset to explore structural concepts that were previously out of reach.”

By providing aggressive prototyping workflows coupled with robust applied materials research, the installation of the CF3D Enterprise cell enhances Auburn researchers' ability to collaborate directly with the local defense community. Importantly, this new capability also affords students and faculty invaluable hands-on experience with digital composite manufacturing—a skill increasingly sought after across aerospace and defense initiatives.

Dr. Luke Boyer, Lead Principal Research Engineer and Advanced Manufacturing Team Lead, articulated the vital role of Auburn's Huntsville location in national defense efforts, stating, “Auburn's presence in Huntsville places us in the center of national-priority programs. Integrating CF3D into our capabilities expands our support for hypersonic development and gives partners the ability to study structural concepts grounded in real manufacturing data.”

Looking forward, Continuous Composites plans to host a CF3D Tech Tour at Auburn University's Huntsville Research and Innovation Center on March 11, 2026. This event, operating under a Distro C classification level, will bring together aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), defense primes, research institutions, and government stakeholders for a robust dialogue around technical aspects, demonstrations, and an up-close look at the CF3D Enterprise Cell. Interested parties wishing to attend are encouraged to sign up for the invitation list to gain access to this essential gathering.

In summary, the collaboration between Auburn University and Continuous Composites signals a significant advancement in composite manufacturing technology, setting the stage for innovative developments in aerospace and defense. As the landscape of hypersonics continues to evolve, this partnership exemplifies the university's pivotal role in shaping the future of this crucial sector.