The new Dynetics Solutions Complex opened here this week at 1004 Explorer Blvd. will expand capabilities in research and development and production for aerospace, cyber and defense products in Huntsville. It is a high-tech prototyping facility, incorporating the latest resources available to produce quality products rapidly and affordably for both commercial and government customers. The opening of the new facility is intended to add 250 to 300 additional jobs over the next three years.
The Solutions Complex, conveniently located on the company’s campus in Cummings Research Park, is 226,500 square feet, expanding Dynetics’ hardware prototyping capabilities in Huntsville to more than 300,000 square feet. It is designed to accommodate commercial and government programs and to provide flexibility for specific customer requirements.
Dr. Marc Bendickson, Dynetics CEO, said, “The name of this facility, ‘The Solutions Complex,’ is intended to convey to our customers our goal to provide a solution here locally to their expanding set of requirements.”
The new facility will provide space for the company’s hardware integration programs; small-quantity specialty item production; large-scale Targets programs; space systems work (including satellite integration); and specialized systems, subsystems and tools development. It will enable consolidation of electronics fabrication and assembly, as well as mechanical test equipment including a thermal vacuum chamber and a shaker table.
The complex will offer the ability to locate government and industry engineers together for collaborative research and manufacturing.
Tom Baumbach, president, said, “Examples of successful projects that have involved collaboration between government and industry engineers include FASTSAT (the Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology SATellite) and lunar lander testbeds, as well as several classified Army missile programs.”
Dynetics employees working on the mating and integration system for Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch air launch system will be located in The Solutions Complex, and more employees will be added to accommodate future projects.
David King, Dynetics executive vice president, said, “Last week, we announced two contracts for which we are competing, the Engineered Prototyping Solutions (ESP) contract with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and/or Risk Reduction (ABEDRR) procurement. Should we be selected for these procurements, much of the work will be performed in this facility.”
Dynetics is also bidding on the Test Execution Services and Launch Augmentation (TESTLA) procurement for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, which will require the capabilities available in the new facility.
The Open House and Ribbon Cutting for The Solutions Complex was held on the 23rd anniversary of Dynetics’ becoming an employee-owned company under ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).