Zoltek Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers and technical fibers primarily in Europe, the United States, and Asia. It offers commercial carbon fibers that are used as reinforcement material in composites for commercial products; and oxidized acrylic fibers and specialty carbon fibers to manufacture aircraft brake pads and for heat/fire barrier applications. The company sells carbon fibers under the Panex trade name, and oxidized acrylic fibers under the Pyron trade name. It also engages in water treatment and electrical services businesses; and the manufacture and sale of filament winding and pultrusion equipment used in the production of large volume composite parts. The company was founded in 1975 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.