# Firefly Aerospace automates composite rocket production with AFP systems

Firefly Aerospace is transitioning to Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) systems from Ingersoll Machine Tools to produce its all-composite Alpha rocket airframe in as little as 14 days. The first AFP system will be installed in May 2021 at its Briggs, Texas facility, with a second system planned for its Florida factory starting 2022.

- Type: Investment
- Announced: 2021-01-01
- Where: Briggs, Texas, United States
- Starts operating: May 2021
- Status: announced
- Capacity: 24 Alpha rockets per year at Florida factory
- Products: all-composite rocket airframes, Alpha launch vehicle, Beta launch vehicle
- Sectors: [Automation and Robotics](https://endata.com/sectors/automation-robotics.md), [Aerospace Components](https://endata.com/sectors/aerospace-components.md)

## Companies

- [Firefly Aerospace](https://endata.com/companies/32121.md)
- [Ingersoll Machine Tools](https://endata.com/companies/42992.md) (supplier)

## Sources

- [mfgnewsweb.com](https://www.mfgnewsweb.com/archives/4/57908/Current-News-jan21/Firefly-Aerospace-Automates-Composite-Rocket-Production.aspx), 2021-01-01: "High-speed robotic large-scale automated fiber placement (AFP) machines, like those produced by Ingersoll Machine Tools, are now widely utilized in the aircraft industry."

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Data from Endata (https://endata.com/). Announcements are summarized from public sources and may be incomplete; check the linked originals.