Australia based producer of high grade carbon fibre composite components - Quickstep Holdings Limited said it has entered into an agreement with its US licensee - Vector Composites Inc, under which Quickstep will integrate its US business with that of Vector Composites.

The agreement follows the successful completion of a Small Business Innovation Research contract awarded by the US Department of Defence to the Vector/Quickstep team in 2010.

Under the agreement, Vector Composites will acquire specific assets and lease key equipment including a Quickstep curing machine, enabling Vector Composites to manufacture composite parts in-house using Quickstep technology.

As a result of the agreement, Quickstep's existing US facility will be closed and the agreement also gives Quickstep access to a facility in the US with reduced operating costs.

Vector Composites CEO, Lyle Dunbar said, “Our collaboration to date with Quickstep in the US has enabled us to add another valuable technology to our out-of-autoclave portfolio for manufacturing advanced composites.

Dunbar added, “With the incorporation of the Quickstep technology and equipment inside our facility, Vector is able to offer the market the ability to go from prototype to production in an aerospace qualified environment.”

Quickstep ED, Philippe Odouard, said, "We have worked very successfully with Vector Composites and believe that this agreement with Vector provides Quickstep with an effective sales solution for the US market.

“Vector Composites will now use Quickstep technology to manufacture carbon fibre parts, and we will maintain our close relationship as Vector Composites showcases our technologies in the US, which also enables us to close our US office.” (AR)