About Us

Welcome to C/A Design

C/A Design, Inc., a key member of the Heico Companies, is a leading innovator in engineered rugged and embedded cooling solutions for the Aerospace and Defense sector. Headquartered in Exeter, NH, with additional operations in Raleigh, NC, C/A Design leverages decades of expertise in mechanical and thermal design to create mission-critical products. The company’s product portfolio includes Vacuum & Dip Brazements, Rugged Chassis, Conduction Cooled Heat Frames, Wedgelock Card Retainers, Liquid Flow-Through Heat Frames, and complex high-tolerance machined components, all manufactured using advanced automated machining techniques.

C/A Design specializes in delivering tailored solutions that meet industry standards such as VITA and SOSA. With a proven track record of providing highly specialized parts, we are dedicated to protecting the Warfighter by ensuring the highest quality and reliability in every product we deliver.

Expansion and Innovation

In 2025, to enhance its service to customers in the Aerospace & Defense sector, C/A Design’s sister company, Wakefield Thermal Rugged & Defense, has merged into a single unified entity. This new division introduces an expanded range of both standard Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products and custom solutions for the Aerospace & Defense industry, including Wegelock Card Retainers, Heat Frames, Ejectors & Injectors, and Liquid Cold Plates.

In our stride to always embrace innovation, we purchased the original Vacuum Oven, thus placing us at the forefront of Brazing Technology. We harness this technological advantage to meet and surpass your most complex brazing needs.

Specialized Services

Heat Treatment

Heat Treatment is another one of our specialized areas. We possess both the hardware and the know-how to fulfill your heat treating requisites according to your precise specifications. To provide you with the best, we carry out all special processes onsite, ensuring maximum satisfaction.

CNC Machining

Our meticulous manufacturing process leverages 3, 4, and 5 axis CNC machining centers, all armed with full workpiece probing abilities. This stringent system empowers us to deliver products in compliance with the most demanding standards.

Chromate Conversion Coating

Chromate Conversion Coating is an area where our expertise really shines. We utilize specifically formulated processes coupled with our comprehensive understanding of Chromate Coatings to provide you with sturdy, reliable components manufactured in line with your exact specifications.

Custom Solutions

Further, our proficiency in custom cooling and avionic applications is harnessed to deliver products tailor-made to fit your specific needs. The one-stop-shop nature of our services, encompassing in-house engineering, brazing, and heat treatment, makes it possible for us to cater to your most demanding projects seamlessly.