Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 D E C E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S M A N U FA C T U R I N G high-temperature applications such as thermal protection systems, re-entry vehicle nose tips, rocket throats and nozzles. Its products are used in U.S. bal- listic missiles like the Trident D5 and in NASA programs such as Stardust, Mars Curiosity, Orion and Mars 2020. Earlier this year, FMI played a key role in the successful return of NASA's OSIRIS-REx space capsule which brought rocks and dust back from a sampling mission to the asteroid Bennu. FMI helped fabricate the heatshield, engineered to protect the capsule and its contents from heat of 4,000 degrees when the returning spacecraft hit the Earth's atmosphere at 27,000 mph. Big plans for space e 20 Morin St. lease will allow FMI to begin the process of setting up a cen- ter of excellence for design and develop- ment of advanced materials for extreme environments, Matt Bernier, the com- pany's general manager, told Mainebiz. "We've been seeing incredible growth in the industries we support," he said. "ese materials are critical to the development of future systems for the Department of Defense, NASA and commercial space." e lease will also allow FMI to ramp up capacity for the materials it currently produces. Renovations have started with some deferred maintenance. at work and equipment fit-up are expected to continue into 2025. But the company will start occupying the building as stages are completed. e facility will support "low rate ini- tial production" activities. e term refers to the design and prototyping involved in early-stage product development, said Mark Forkapa, FMI's director of busi- ness development and marketing. "is site will help us build proto- types, finalize the materials, and then move into low-rate initial production," Forkapa said. "e beauty of the plant is that the type of manufacturing equip- ment and processes we'll use are ones C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com Bringing a Bright Vision to a Building's Next Chapter When a building goes on the market, it's an opportunity for someone to bring a bold vision for what comes next. Tim and Sharon Sanfino, working with broker Chris Craig, saw a chance to build an inspiring next chapter for an underutilized building on Ocean Street in South Portland. Bolstered by Craig's market insight, the Sanfinos envisioned a trio of high-caliber restaurants and wanted to find the right tenants. Broker Sam LeGeyt was working with SoPo Seafood Co-Founder Lucas Myers to find a location that would contribute to the success of his business. The Ocean Street building was perfect and Myers was excited to create a neighborhood gathering spot. Our clients benefit from the combined resources of our team of brokers. Put our collaborative approach to work for you. dwmlaw.com dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 800.727.1941 A Different Way of Looking at Things In business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That's where Drummond Woodsum can help. We use a team approach – a small group of highly specialized attorneys focused on helping your business see what's ahead before you take that next step. It's extremely efficient and cost-effective, and an excellent way to get the legal insight you need when you need it. P ROV I D E D P H O T O / T H E D U N H A M G RO U P Fiber Materials Inc. is expanding into a 52,000-square-foot industrial building at 20 Morin St. in Biddeford, down the street from its headquarters.

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