DALLAS—Saxon Unmanned selected IGCS International and its strategic partner, Lacks Enterprises, to deliver high-volume, 100 percent U.S.-made production of its flagship UAV (drone) platforms: Monitor VTOL, VIPER, Atlas, and Titan, according to a release by IGCS International. Saxon Unmanned is a McPherson, Kansas-based designer and manufacturer of rugged, long-endurance UAV systems.
The strategic partnership is reported to immediately accelerate output at IGCS’s fully domestic Grand Rapids, Michigan facilities. The facilities include an 80,000 ft² advanced composites center, seven injection molding plants with 115-plus machines (250–4,400 tons), four electroplating lines, and three high-volume painting and finishing facilities that produce more than 60,000 parts per day. The result, according to the release: dramatically faster production rates, significantly lower costs, and uncompromising Made-in-America quality.
IGCS and its strategic partner, Lacks Enterprises, were selected by Saxon Unmanned to provide high-volume, 100 percent U.S. production of Saxon’s flagship UAV (drone) platforms. (Photo: IGSC International/PRNewswire)
“Pairing Saxon Unmanned’ s rugged, long-endurance airframe designs with IGCS’s world-class composites, molding, plating, and finishing expertise, the alliance is now scaling delivery for multiple UAV platforms,” the release stated.
“Saxon Unmanned chose IGCS and Lacks for one reason: They deliver the fastest, highest-volume USA production in the industry,” said Saxon Unmanned’s John Ferguson, in the release. “We will be manufacturing the Monitor VTOL, VIPER, Atlas, and Titan at scale—lighter, stronger, more affordable, and 100 percent American-made.”
The alliance is said to strengthen U.S. supply chain security, reinforce American manufacturing supremacy, and meet the urgent demand for unmatched unmanned aircraft superiority. IGCS International and Lacks Enterprises are actively seeking additional unmanned systems partners ready to launch at full speed with proven, high-capacity domestic manufacturing, IGCS said in the release.
“This partnership fulfills the requirements of USA MADE for America’s Drone Dominance program with rapid, reliable domestic manufacturing,” added Russ Spears, president of IGCS International, in the release. “IGCS and Lacks are proud to serve as Saxon’s high-volume production engine—and we have massive available capacity ready for more partners. We invite every forward-thinking drone manufacturer to bring your designs to our Grand Rapids facilities and scale production faster and more affordably than ever before.”
IGCS International said it delivers advanced manufacturing solutions to the Pentagon and prime contractors. All operations are 100 percent U.S.-based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Founded in 1961, Lacks Enterprises is described by IGCS as an advanced manufacturing powerhouse with deep expertise in electroplating, high-tonnage injection molding, advanced composites, and high-performance painting and finishing. Operating multiple state-of-the-art facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lacks delivers Tier-1 quality, high-volume capacity, and high-level surface engineering capabilities that are “100 percent Made in America,” the release said.