HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Aerobotix, an AS9100-certified FANUC robotics integrator for the aerospace and defense industries, today announced a distribution agreement with Minteq International, Inc. The partnership will accelerate the production of hypersonic weapons by providing immediate access to a leading hypersonic missile coating.

Under the agreement, Aerobotix will distribute Minteq’s FIREX™ RX-2390 Thermal Protection System (TPS) coating for hypersonic flight hardware. The company will work directly with Minteq’s Pennsylvania-based Pyrogenics Group, a global leader in high-temperature coatings for military and aerospace applications.

The Pentagon has urged America’s largest defense manufacturers to speed up hypersonic weapon production. Aerobotix is answering that call by keeping fresh FIREX™ RX-2390 coating in stock and ready for immediate deployment.

“We wanted to help our customers and the U.S. Government field hypersonic missiles and aircraft as quickly as possible,” said Kent Pfeifer, process development manager at Aerobotix. “By keeping fresh FIREX™ RX-2390 on our shelves, we can immediately assist major programs. We robotically spray accurate panels and even prototype parts for flight tests. This cuts critical weeks from delivery time.”

Minteq selected Aerobotix for its expertise in robotic spraying technology. The company can spray parts and test panels within extremely tight tolerances for uniformity and thickness. Aerobotix also has extensive experience with major defense contractors using the FIREX™ product.

“Aerobotix sprays our product much better than anyone could by hand,” said Mark Breloff, technical sales manager at Minteq. “The robot mixes the coating perfectly, just in time, and applies it so accurately that we see improved performance across the board.”

The FIREX™ formulations combine modified epoxy binders with thermally active materials. These materials form cooling gases when temperatures exceed 350°F, protecting hypersonic vehicles during flight. Aerobotix and Minteq scientists developed a unique robotic paint dispensing system optimized for automation and heavy production. The system can scan parts to capture as-built shapes, spray to near-net dimensions, and use robots to sand down to optimal shape and thickness.

“Lab results are outstanding with this approach,” Breloff added. “Most importantly, this allows Minteq to show our customers what RX-2390 can really do.”

The new agreement enhances Aerobotix’s Fully Automated Hypersonic Coating Production System, designated a “Center of Excellence.” The facility provides comprehensive services for preparing and painting hypersonic structures, including:

• Automated structured light scanning and projection
• Automated masking tape application
• Automated FIREX™ spraying
• Automated non-contact Terahertz measurement
• Automated closed-loop, force-controlled sanding
• Adaptive robotic machining of coatings

The system includes “never been done before” adaptations of high Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) technologies.

Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, the company specializes in the creation of cutting-edge robotic solutions for high-value, high-precision components, aircraft, and vehicles. Aerobotix has more than 155 robotic systems installed in the U.S. and abroad, providing exceptional results and savings for our clients.