At Everett’s Intec, 787 is put to the test

  • By Michelle Dunlop Herald Writer
  • Thursday, September 9, 2010 2:48pm
  • Business

Bob LaMantea has no doubt that the Boeing Co.’s new, mostly composite 787 jet can survive a hailstorm in flight.

“They know that airplane can fly through a hailstorm safely because we’ve tested it here first,” he said.

LaMantea’s Integrated Technologies, known as Intec, has been testing and manufacturing composite materials for 22 years — long before Boeing’s 787 made composites an industry sensation.

A weight drops onto a composite slab with the same force and velocity that hail would hit the 787 during flight. To the naked eye, the section looks unharmed from the strike. An Intec worker takes the freshly struck composite section and places it in a machine that scans each layer of carbon fiber composites in much the same way that the human body would undergo a CT scan or an MRI.

Besides having raw numbers to prove how the composite section withstood the impact, Intec now has an image, which illustrates what numbers cannot.

Although Intec’s portfolio is split pretty evenly between testing and manufacturing, it’s the testing that really stands out.

The properties of aluminum are clearly defined, leaving little guesswork on how an aluminum part will perform. With composites, “it’s all new all the time,” LaMantea said.

From the moment that rolls of composite material arrive at Intec, which is just minutes from Boeing’s Everett factory, workers test, retest and document each step.

Even with the 787 in flight testing, testing on its composite structures continues.

“Boeing goes above and beyond in testing,” LaMantea said.

In fact, Intec is still doing testing for the F-22 — the project that got Intec started more than two decades ago.

Boeing makes up about 20 percent of Intec’s business. The composites company also does work for Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Bombardier and Gulfstream. Airbus makes up only a small portion of Intec’s business.

Although much of Intec’s work is focused on airplanes, the company has done military and space applications, including work for the Mars rover. It also builds composite pods for moving and storing things.

“If you’re just a test lab, you put on the white coat and you’re critical of everyone,” he said.

But being a composites manufacturer, too, “it keeps our testing realistic.”

Intec, which has 65 employees, is in the process of expanding its testing center in Everett.

Intec was bought by LMI Aerospace in January 2009. LMI also bought Mukilteo’s D3 Technologies, which is primarily an engineering company. LMI’s plan is to offer integrated services. For example, D3 can engineer wing flaps; Intec will test and eventually manufacture those flaps. The company could automate the manufacturing process, keeping costs competitive.

In the meantime, “we’re pretty much a complete composites center,” LaMantea said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

The livery on a Boeing plane. (Christopher Pike / Bloomberg)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO joins Boeing as top financial officer

Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer is being replaced by a former CFO at… Continue reading

Izaac Escalante-Alvarez unpacks a new milling machine at the new Boeing machinists union’s apprentice training center on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists union training center opens in Everett

The new center aims to give workers an inside track at Boeing jobs.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

People take photos and videos as the first Frontier Arlines flight arrives at Paine Field Airport under a water cannon salute on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Water cannons salute Frontier on its first day at Paine Field

Frontier Airlines joins Alaska Airlines in offering service Snohomish County passengers.

Amit B. Singh, president of Edmonds Community College. 201008
Edmonds College and schools continue diversity programs

Educational diversity programs are alive and well in Snohomish County.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Pharmacist John Sontra and other employees work on calling customers to get their prescriptions transferred to other stores from the Bartell Drugs Pharmacy on Hoyt Avenue on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bartell Drugs location shutters doors in Everett

John Sontra, a pharmacist at the Hoyt Avenue address for 46 years, said Monday’s closure was emotional.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.