How Aerospace Fabrication & Materials and Dunmore Keep Space Missions on Track: Inside the 25-Year Partnership
For more than two decades, Aerospace Fabrication & Materials (AFM) in Farmington, Minnesota has quietly played a critical role in protecting some of the most important spacecraft in operation today. Specializing in the design, manufacture, and installation of Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets and passive thermal control systems, the company supports missions operating in the most extreme aerospace and cryogenic environments.
AFM’s work spans high-profile programs such as the International Space Station, SLS/Artemis, Boeing Starliner, and numerous communications satellites including SES-20 and SES-21. In each case, thermal protection is not just a subsystem—it is mission assurance, ensuring the spacecraft can survive and perform in the harsh conditions of space.
AFM was founded in 1999 by former thin film conversion industry engineers with deep expertise in aerospace soft goods. Not long after opening its doors, the company began working with Dunmore—a relationship that has now spanned more than 25 years. As co-founder and owner Brent Anderson explains, “We’ve been working with Dunmore since the very beginning—and that relationship has only grown stronger over time.” What began as a supplier connection quickly evolved into a long-term partnership built on trust, technical collaboration, and shared accountability for mission success.
Over that time, the space industry itself has undergone a dramatic transformation. AFM has seen its customer base grow from a handful of large aerospace primes to more than a hundred organizations annually, reflecting the rapid expansion of the commercial space sector. Programs that once spanned decades are now complemented by fast-moving satellite constellations and iterative design cycles. This shift has required AFM to become more agile, delivering not just precision but speed. “We’re constantly adjusting to meet customer needs,” Anderson notes, “and having a supplier like Dunmore makes that possible.”
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Speed, Responsiveness, and Keeping Production Moving
In this environment, material availability and responsiveness are not conveniences—they are critical to keeping production lines moving. AFM’s MLI systems depend on highly specialized films, foils, and tapes, all of which must meet strict compliance and performance standards. Any delay in sourcing can ripple through production schedules and, ultimately, customer deliveries. As Kirk Switzer, Resource Manager at AFM, puts it plainly, “If materials don’t arrive on time, production stops—and that becomes very costly very quickly.”
This is where Dunmore has consistently distinguished itself. Over 25 years, the company has become a reliable extension of AFM’s operations, delivering not only high-quality materials but also the responsiveness required in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. “Timely quotes and fast delivery are critical—and Dunmore consistently delivers,” Switzer explains. Just as important is the accuracy and professionalism of documentation—certifications, traceability, and compliance paperwork—which are essential in aerospace manufacturing. “Their documentation and follow-up certifications are very professional—it saves us time and energy,” he adds, highlighting how Dunmore’s attention to detail reduces the burden on AFM’s quality team.
A True Partnership Built on Expertise and Collaboration
Beyond speed and reliability, the relationship between AFM and Dunmore is deeply collaborative. AFM regularly turns to Dunmore not just for materials, but for expertise—seeking guidance on the best solutions for specific applications and how quickly they can be delivered. “We often go to Dunmore and ask: what’s the best material for this—and how fast can we get it?” Switzer says. This problem-solving dynamic has become a defining feature of the partnership, particularly as both companies look ahead to developing new materials for next-generation missions.
Today, as AFM supports an expanding range of missions—from large-scale government programs to high-volume commercial satellites—the demands on their business continue to grow. Their ability to deliver complex, high-performance MLI systems on time depends not only on their own expertise, but on the strength of their supply chain.
After 25 years of working together, Dunmore remains a cornerstone of that foundation.
“The quality of Dunmore’s products and their customer service are excellent—the team is detail-oriented, responsive, and easy to work with,” Switzer says. “You can pick up the phone or send an email and get a quick response. That’s huge for us.” It’s a straightforward assessment, but one backed by decades of shared experience. In an industry defined by complexity and consequence, that kind of consistency is rare—and invaluable.