Karman Platform has Expanded Capabilities to Provide Greater Support of the Nation’s Space, Launch and Missile Systems
[Mukilteo, WA. SEPTEMBER 2021] – Systima Technologies, Inc. (“Systima”), a premier manufacturer of energetic components, structures and integrated systems, has announced that it is joining Trive Capital (“Trive”), a Dallas-based private equity firm with extensive investments in the space and defense sectors. Systima is now part of Trive’s Karman Missile & Space Systems (“Karman”) one of the largest independently owned suppliers focused on engineering and manufacturing complex systems for the space, missile, interceptor and hypersonic markets.
Trive has brought together five leading aerospace companies with expertise in metallic and composite manufacturing and energetic integrated systems engineering to form Karman. The Karman platform includes AMRO Fabricating Corp., AAE Aerospace, Aerospace Engineering Corp., TMX Engineering, and now Systima. The addition of Systima provides unique and critical capabilities for energetic systems. Energetic systems utilize explosives and propellants to provide energy and do work, such as rocket engine stage separation and deployable shroud systems. The Karman team combined will have a greater offering for customers such as launch providers and defense prime contractors. The senior leadership teams of the businesses will continue as equity holders and executives at Karman.
“We are beyond excited to join forces with these world-class companies to form the Karman platform. Karman is positioned to bolster the U.S. industrial base and enable our customers to push the boundaries of what is possible. This team’s passion and focus to provide solutions, no matter how challenging the requirements, is inspiring and I think that is noticed across the space and defense industry,” Tom Prenzlow, Division Lead and former owner of Systima Technologies.
“This is another big milestone for Karman.” said Tony Koblinski, Chief Executive Officer of Karman. “Systima’s robust engineering capabilities allows Karman to work collaboratively with our customers at an earlier stage of a platform’s development to identify the ways that Karman can add value.”
David Stinnett, Partner at Trive, stated “We are thrilled to have Systima join the Karman platform. Systima has a phenomenal reputation in the industry for being on the cutting edge of engineering solutions and advanced material science which makes Systima an invaluable partner to their OEM customers. We believe our ability to attract such industry leading talent and pedigree to Karman is further validation of this thesis. The alignment of what Karman is building with the industry need is resonating with business owners and being reinforced by incredibly positive feedback from our customers.”
About Trive
Trive Capital is a Dallas, Texas based private equity firm managing approximately $2 billion in aggregate capital commitments. Trive focuses on investing equity and debt in what it sees as strategically viable middle-market companies with the potential for transformational upside through operational improvement. They seek to maximize returns through a hands-on partnership that calls for identifying and implementing value creation ideas.
About KARMAN
Karman Missile & Space Systems is one of the largest independently owned suppliers of critical flight hardware, energetic systems and complex sub-assemblies serving the space, missile and hypersonic markets. Karman leverages decades of capability expertise in design engineering, precision machining, large part forming, high temperature and structural composite material processing while actively adding new capabilities in collaboration with customers. Karman is an unparalleled, integrated supplier with over 800 employees working across five manufacturing campuses on the West Coast.
About SYSTIMA
Systima Technologies is a leading manufacturer of aerostructures and energetic integrated systems for missile, space, launch vehicles, and military aircraft. Systima’s energetic products include cartridge- and propellant-actuated devices (CAD/PAD), separation and deployment systems, electromechanical systems, and safe-and-arm initiation systems. Systima also provides standalone aerostructures including military aircraft pylons, launch tubes, interstages and shrouds. Systima’s main campus is located on the waterfront in Mukilteo, WA, which is just south of the Paine Field Airport in Everett, WA. Systima’s state-of-the-art facility has over 330,000 sq/ft for engineering and analysis, prototype development, testing, qualification and production. This facility also includes structural composite manufacturing, machine shop, energetics handling and integration, and clean room production spaces.