**Founding Layup Parts and the Need for Innovation in Composites Manufacturing**
Layup Parts, a hard tech startup focused on composites manufacturing, recently secured a $9 million funding round led by Founders Fund. The rapid success of Layup demonstrates investors’ increasing interest in tech-focused solutions for the challenges faced by the American industrial base. One of the reasons Layup was able to secure funding quickly is because its founders have deep experience with the issues plaguing domestic manufacturing.
The three founders of Layup, Zack Eakin, Hanno Kappen, and Elisa Suarez, previously worked together at The Boring Company, Elon Musk’s unconventional transportation project. While Kappen later joined Stellar Pizza, a robotic pizzeria, and Suarez had stints at Rivian and Heliogen, Eakin, now the CEO of Layup, moved to Anduril in 2021 as the director of mechanical engineering. Eakin played a key role in the development of Anduril’s flying drone products, including Roadrunner.
Eakin’s experience at Anduril highlighted a need for innovation in composites manufacturing. While other areas of manufacturing, such as CNC-machining and injection molding, have seen significant advancements and streamlined processes thanks to companies like Protolabs, Xometry, and Fictiv, composites manufacturing has lagged behind. Eakin attributes this lack of innovation to two main factors: existing composites manufacturers are not well-equipped to develop the necessary software tools, and composites manufacturing is a more artisanal process that is less easily automated compared to other manufacturing methods.
**Challenges in Composites Manufacturing and Layup’s Solution**
The challenges in composites manufacturing are evident in the time-consuming and expensive process of obtaining composite components like those used in Roadrunner. Engineers often have to wait up to two weeks to receive a quote from a manufacturer, resulting in long lead times for the production of complex or large parts. In contrast, Layup aims to address these challenges by offering a faster and more cost-effective solution. The company plans to deliver small parts in just three days and larger components within two weeks, all at a lower cost to the customer.
According to Eakin, Layup has the potential to be ten times faster than existing manufacturers and offer upfront costs that are half of what customers typically pay. While some may view the competition as a concern, Eakin believes that the focus of many top composites companies owned by private equity firms is on securing long-term contracts rather than prioritizing faster-turnaround development programs. By emphasizing development and speed, Layup can provide a better service and position itself to secure valuable contracts in the future.
**The Importance of Software and Layup’s Future Plans**
Although Layup will need a few years before it can accept any CAD model from customers and deliver a part within days, the company recognizes the significance of software in differentiating itself in the market. To achieve this goal, Layup plans to have a factory operational and producing parts for customers by the end of the third quarter of this year. The majority of the $9 million funding will be allocated to capital expenditures, such as a larger building and additional equipment, as well as hiring software developers and factory floor technicians.
Layup’s mission extends beyond addressing supply chain issues and an aging workforce in the industrial base. Eakin is motivated by the opportunity to empower engineering students by removing barriers to entry created by outdated manufacturing processes. By revolutionizing composites manufacturing, Layup aims to make high-quality composite parts accessible to all individuals who aspire to build.
In conclusion, Layup Parts’ success in securing funding demonstrates the growing interest in tech-focused solutions for the challenges faced by the American industrial base. The founders’ experience and expertise in composites manufacturing have uniquely positioned Layup to pioneer innovation in this industry. By addressing the inefficiencies and limitations of traditional composites manufacturing, Layup aims to provide faster, cost-effective, and high-quality solutions while empowering young engineers to realize their ambitions.
