Advanced materials company Quickstep Holdings has announced plans to set up a US base in an effort to target and secure defence and aerospace contracts.
It has established a new subsidiary company, 'Quickstep Composites LLC' which will operate from Ohio.
Australian based CEO Philippe Odouard said the establishment of a formal subsidiary in the United States will enable Quickstep to deal directly with the various tiers of the composites industry in America, including the aerospace and defence sectors.
"With a formal US subsidiary, we are able to directly contract with prime defence contractors based in the US, including on projects subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that restrict access to foreign nationals," he said.
US based director has been Dale Brosius appointed President of the US arm.
Mr Brosius said the US entity will be permitted to apply as a prime contractor for certain State of Ohio and US Federal Government funded programs aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the US composites industry and other industries that employ advanced composites in their products, such as aerospace and high performance automotive.
It will also qualify for specific American State and local incentive programs related to job creation.