The planned 80,000-square-foot facility is part of the company’s ongoing growth strategy to meet rising demand for critical infrared products while strengthening a secure domestic supply chain.
BOZEMAN, Mont.—Lattice Materials, an advanced manufacturer and part of The Partner Companies (TPC), is planning to break ground on a new 80,000-square-foot facility in Bozeman during the spring of 2026. The new facility will be located at 3565 Prince Lane, Bozeman, Montana, the company stated in a release.
Lattice Materials specializes in custom-grown silicon and germanium crystals and machined components. Reported to be one of the only U.S.-based manufacturers with the capability to custom-grow silicon and germanium crystals, the company delivers high-precision optical components that help protect soldiers in battle and advance critical technologies.
“This expansion supports growing demand for critical infrared products and strengthens the domestic supply chain,” the release stated.
The planned facility will more than double Lattice’s current footprint, providing the necessary infrastructure to respond to increased demand for critical optical components for aerospace and defense industries. It will support stronger, more secure U.S. supply chains, and is expected to create 50 new jobs over the next three years. According to Lattice, this expansion is vital to enabling its vision to be “the leading high-precision manufacturer of complete infrared optical solutions for mission-critical applications.”
“The project is made possible in part by an $18.5 million investment in Lattice from the Department of War aimed at strengthening the availability of critical materials used in advanced infrared and imaging technologies for the defense industry,” the release stated. “This builds on TPC’s strong financial trajectory and ongoing investment strategy.”
“Montana is proud to be home to Lattice Materials as a leading manufacturer of germanium and silicon critical for the semiconductor industry,” Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said. “The investment from the Department of War has led to this important expansion and will create more good-paying jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign nations for critical minerals. Together, we will continue to grow this sector of our economy to keep America prosperous and strong.”
As one of few U.S.-based germanium and silicon crystal growers and custom optical component manufacturers, Lattice is a major supplier of infrared optical lenses, windows, and mirrors that are used in numerous defense optics systems, such as F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Abrams Tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, UAVs, thermal targeting systems, missiles, satellites, and thermal and night vision goggles.
Past export restrictions imposed by China highlight the vulnerability of depending on foreign sources for these critical applications, reinforcing the imperative to develop secure domestic supply chain alternatives for defense and aerospace applications, the company said in the release.
“Montana is a leader in technology and photonics, and this new major facility expansion from Lattice Materials will create more than 50 Montana jobs while reducing our dependence on other countries for critical minerals,” said U.S. Senator Steve Daines, in the release. “Lattice is a leading manufacturer of germanium and silicon—essential for defense optics systems. This new facility will help bolster our economy and increase our national security, and I’m thrilled to see it come to my hometown of Bozeman.”
“Expanding and investing in our critical minerals industry here at home is vital to limiting our reliance on foreign adversaries for these resources,” said U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy, in the release. “Through its investment, Lattice Materials will help fortify our critical minerals supply chain, create new Montana jobs, and ensure our warfighters have the tools they need to meet the demands of the 21st century.”
The release stated that the facility will provide numerous enhanced facility capabilities, including the largest boule growth for optics is North America; increased capacity in large and standard size boule growth; internal zone refining; alkali etching; and mega boule cropping.
Additional capabilities will include grinding and machining; improved tolerances for machining; and larger and more technical polish capabilities. Lattice will also pursue LEED Gold Certification for the facility, the company said.
“This new facility marks a pivotal step in our growth, as global demand accelerates for high-performance, U.S.-manufactured germanium optics, driven by increased defense investment,” said Travis Wood, president of Lattice Materials, in a statement. “Expanding our capacity enables our customers to innovate with confidence, maintain resilient domestic supply chains, and ensure mission-critical technologies are available when needed.”
“Lattice continues to set the bar for operational excellence in custom, U.S.-made solutions,” said Dan Brumlik, founder and co-chairman of The Partner Companies, in the release. “This new facility build demonstrates our commitment to anticipating demand, accelerating delivery timelines, and ensuring that customers receive trusted solutions for demanding applications.”
The release stated that Lattice’s expansion is supported by TPC’s robust growth strategy to bolster its brands’ capabilities and advance organic and inorganic growth opportunities. As part of this strategy, TPC completed two other capital raises in 2025. One was a more than $100 million strategic equity investment from Tensile Capital Management, a San Francisco-based investment firm. The transaction strengthens TPC’s capital base and provides long-term flexibility to support the company’s strategic initiatives and growth.
The other was a $200 million-plus syndicated credit facility led by Huntington Bank with joint lead arranger, Key Bank. The financing will help accelerate growth across TPC’s 11 brands that serve the aerospace, defense, medical technology, energy, and broader industries.
With more than three decades of expertise in the highly specialized Czochralski crystal growth process, Lattice uses its custom-grown germanium and silicon crystal capabilities to develop unique components that meet tight tolerances and precise customer specifications. The company’s engineers grow application-specific crystals with precise control over diameter, orientation, and electrical resistivity. This high-precision process relies on specialized equipment and deep domain expertise, the release said.
Beyond defense applications, Lattice delivers custom products across commercial optics, lasers, semiconductors, research and development, and thin-film coating. The company also serves top medical, security, and renewable energy companies, providing optical blanks, precision optical curve generation, high-precision polishing, and machining, according to the release.