BAM Company Summary

Who is BAM?

BAM is an advanced materials company utilizing proprietary technology in high-temperature furnace systems for processing and manufacturing carbon solutions. BAM is nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Lab and the University of Tennessee. BAM was founded in the 1980s as American Furnace in Knoxville, TN, and later renamed North American Advanced Materials. In 1995, the company was acquired and became Bethlehem Advanced Materials, which was eventually shortened to BAM. Today, the company is owned by Loar Group, a talented operating company owning multiple niche part manufacturing companies in the aerospace industry.

What high temperature problems and projects does BAM address?

BAM operates 15 high temperature furnaces across 100,000 sf of facility space in a 24/7/365 operation. We are proud of our ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev D certifications. Our focus lies in addressing the challenges associated with high-temperature processing. Utilizing our expertise and proprietary furnace technology, we assist companies in achieving repeatable and consistent processing of carbon-carbon and ceramics. This specialized service caters specifically to the needs of the Aircraft, Space, and Defense industries, enabling them to meet the stringent requirements and standards of these sectors.

Who owns the problem and/or benefits from its solution?

Companies often face problems with capacity or capability when designing or manufacturing products that require high temperature processing. BAM serves as the solution provider, offering its expertise and proprietary furnace technology to address these challenges. BAM is an ideal, cost-effective partner when considering purchasing, operating, and supporting a furnace in-house. Our continuous operation facility offers more efficiencies through scale.

What is the innovative solution and its benefit?

Our customers can access chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), carbonization, pyrolysis and graphitization services eliminating the need for them to invest in their own furnaces or the attached ancillary equipment and maintenance concerns. By leveraging BAM’s capabilities, companies can outsource their processing requirements, enjoying the benefits of specialized knowledge without the capital expenses and operational responsibilities. This allows our customers to focus on their core competencies while ensuring reliable, consistent, and high-quality processing.

What is the current state of development of this solution?

We currently have 15 operational furnaces that are effectively serving our customers' needs. Additionally, we are expanding our capacity further, having constructed a new building capable of housing 7 additional furnaces for this purpose. 

How mature is BAM’s furnace technology?

We have mature technology, and add capabilities such as preform manufacturing, machining and die cutting as required by our customers. Our site visitors consistently provide favorable reviews of our operators, their level of knowledge, and our technical skill for processing carbon.

What are your firm's core capabilities?

Our core capabilities lie in working with manufacturers of carbon graphite structures, composites, powders, and fibers, as well as manufacturers of non-oxide ceramics such as silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron nitride, boron carbide, and other advanced ceramic materials. Throughout our history, BAM has fostered successful collaborations through joint development and licensing agreements. These partnerships have been instrumental in driving technological advancements, expanding our capabilities, and ultimately delivering value to our customers. We have a track record of leveraging these alliances to develop innovative solutions and remain at the forefront of the industry.

What markets does BAM serve?

BAM serves a variety of markets. BAM processes carbon preforms for brakes in commercial and military aircraft, and high-performance automobiles. The company carbonizes materials for thermal protection systems in defense, space, and hypersonic flight applications. BAM has the capability to graphitize carbon for applications in fuel cell electrodes, lithium batteries for EVs, and coating cathodes in electrolyzers to produce hydrogen. The company provides pyrolysis treatment for carbon used in the semiconductor equipment market. BAM can also process specialty materials, like boron nitride and silicon carbide for industrial applications.

How do we contact BAM?

BAM Inc. 10536 Lexington Dr., Knoxville, TN, 37932 http://bamincorporated.com/ 

Please use the website Contact Us link to send us your inquiry to: info@bamknoxville.com