Instaclave Technologies

Our History

John Steven Calder a seasoned product designer with a 40 year track record of innovation. When asked by an industrial design professor, "How will we build large structures in space?" Calder took on the challenge, reflecting on the problem over the course of 3 years.

Drawing on his experience with multiple design disciplines and processes, he determined that a carbon fiber type structure would be the only material capable of the demands of space and light enough to get into orbit economically. Problem is current carbon fiber and composite solutions did not work. There are no molds, or autoclaves available in space. Instead of determining its not possible, he decided to rethink or disrupt composite material technologies to make his proposed design feasible.

So he invented the solution: the Caldera Lamination System (CLS), or "A means to autoclave carbon fiber structures in a vacuum". Calder's solution uses no molds, no ovens, no vacuums and no autoclaves. Bonding and forming CLS parts happen in seconds instead of hours, reducing fabrication energy expense.

The CLS has been verified as scientifically sound by Instaclave R & D partner, Lawrence Berkeley Labs at UC Berkeley. This business opportunity is the most disruptive and important technology of John's career. A division head of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab stated that CLS and the corresponding manufacturing/fabrication technologies are as important and potentially disruptive as the invention of aluminum.