Estes Energetics

Estes Energetics is a U.S. company that makes rocket motors, black powder and chemicals for defense and commercial customers. It is based in Penrose, Colorado. The site says Estes Industries started the company in 2021, taking its work beyond model rockets into aerospace and defense.

The company offers solid rocket motor design, development, production and testing for tactical and aerospace uses. The site says the motors suit boosting rocket launched aircraft, tactical missiles and advanced propulsion systems. It also lists aircraft recovery systems among its skills. A second line of work is propulsion research, done with universities and industry partners.

Estes Energetics also makes critical chemicals, including potassium nitrate, barium nitrate, strontium compounds, and potassium chlorate and perchlorate. In January 2022 it bought GOEX, which the site calls the only commercial scale maker of black powder in the United States. The GOEX plant is in Minden, Louisiana.

The company says it works with mines and chemical plants in the U.S. and Canada, and does many production steps in house. It calls this a ground to round approach, meant to cut reliance on foreign supply chains. Its capabilities include composite solid propellant work, chemical manufacturing and equipment design. The company is ITAR registered.

The website has a news section and a careers page.