HISTORY OF FIBER MATERIALS INC.
Founded in 1969, Fiber Materials Inc. develops and manufactures high temperature materials and composites for use in industrial, commercial, and aerospace applications. With two locations in Biddeford, ME, FMI produces carbon/carbon composites, soft and rigid insulation, and advanced polymer matrix composites.
FMI is a material solutions company that offers a range of capabilities to support the most challenging applications from concept to production. As a recognized leader in the manufacture of high-temperature composite materials, FMI produces components and products that serve a range of applications from industrial insulation and friction hardware, and from thermal protection systems (TPS) to rocket motors to nose tips. Our materials can be found inside industrial furnaces, at the National Air and Space Museum, and on the surface of Mars.
In December 2016, FMI was purchased by Edgewater Capital Partners. FMI joins Edgewater’s impressive portfolio of middle-market performance materials businesses.
As of August 29, 2018, FMI is ISO 9001:2015 certified
CORPORATE TIMELINE
July 2016
1969
FMI is established as a business and manufacturing plant in Westford, MA
1970 – 1996
US Navy Quartz Fiber Preforms
1971
FMI opens a manufacturing plant in Biddeford, ME industrial park
1977
Rocket Motor Integrated Throat Entrance Manufacturing Begins
1977
Energy Materials Testing Laboratory Established
1978
US Air Force 7” Manufacturing Technology (Mantech) Program
1981
Carbon-Carbon Re-entry Material Manufacturing Begins
1981 – 1994
Rumford facility purchased and made operational to support industrial fabrics and 3D weaving
1983
FMI Facility expanded for cylindrical looms, machine shop and materials handling
1985
Initiate building of Dedicated C/C production Facility, Operational 1986
1985
Presque Isle Facility is established for 2D Weaving and production of fabrics
1995-1999
Stardust Heatshield developed and delivered
1994 – Present
Missile Defense Interceptor Integrated Throat Entrance Manufacturing
1996
Contract for Divert and Attitude Control System Materials Leads to Development of FMI Carbon/Carbon Silicon Carbide
1996
US Navy Establishes Intermat Facility for Dedicated C/C Manufacturing and Advanced Development
2005-2007
FMI Supports NASA Orion Thermal Protection System Advanced Development Program
2006
Successful Return of Stardust Sample Return Capsule with FMI PICA Heat Shield Marks Fastest Atmospheric Entry of a Man-Made Object
2007
US Navy supports Intermat development of quartz densification process
2008-2009
FMI Manufactures PICA heat shield tiles for NASA Mars Science Laboratory
2010
Successful demonstration of FMI Carbon/Carbon-Silicon Carbide in NASA Orion Pad Abort-1 flight test
2012
NASA’s Mars Science Lab Curiosity rover lands successfully on the Mars
2013
FMI wins OAI Innovation Award
