ATC Manufacturing (ATC, Post Falls, Idaho, U.S.) has broken ground on a 57,635-square-foot expansion of its Post Falls facility, a milestone that builds on the company’s recent contract award from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, U.S.) for large-scale, high-rate thermoplastic composite (TPC) aircraft structures. ATC is partnered with Baker Construction as general contractor and Bernardo Wills Architects on the design of the new facility, with support from the City of Post Falls throughout the permitting and development process.
The expansion is expected to be complete by late summer 2027; ATC already has multiple projects lined up expected to quickly fill the new capacity. The expansion increases ATC’s capacity to meet demands from commercial and defense customers for lighter, more durable composite aerospace structures, replacing legacy metallic and thermoset parts currently used across U.S. defense systems.
As defense programs push for faster fielding of next-generation platforms and commercial airframers look to scale output, industry analysts and manufacturers alike expect TPC use to grow substantially across both markets in the coming years — a shift ATC’s expanded capacity positions it to help meet.
The expansion will create dozens of new jobs in ATC’s Post Falls, including mechanical engineers, project engineering, entry- and mid-level skill tradesman roles. ATC is also a designated DOD SkillBridge employer, offering transitioning service members hands-on training and career pathways into its growing manufacturing workforce.
A rendering of the completed facility. Source | ATC Manufacturing
