Quickstep Holdings Limited, the manufacturer of high-grade carbon fibre composite components, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Ohio-based Vector Composites Inc, its US licensee, under which Quickstep will integrate its US business with that of Vector Composites. As a result, Quickstep's existing US facility will be closed.

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. The agreement 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. 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 executive director, 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. This enables us to close our US office, which has completed the work for which it was established."