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MEDC | Aerospace Summit Highlights Opportunities for Growth in Key Industry

Michigan Business Network
April 12, 2019 4:00 PM

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Pure Michigan Business Connect coordinates supplier-purchaser meetings 

DETROIT, Mich. – Representatives from leading U.S. aerospace companies attended the Pure Michigan Aerospace Summit Wednesday April 10, 2019 at Ford Field. The gathering paired teams from global companies looking to establish contracts with Michigan-based suppliers and underscores Michigan’s fast-growing aerospace landscape and broader business climate that includes one of the strongest manufacturing-based economies in the nation.

MBN was on hand for coverage, and this is just the first of our reports from there. Stay tuned to MBN for audio excerpts,interviews and plenty of photos from the summit. 

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“The Aerospace Summit provides industry professionals an opportunity to network and expand their business operations, helping solidify Michigan as a competitive player in aerospace manufacturing and deployment operations,” said Jeff Mason, CEO of MEDC. “Between our business-friendly climate and world-renown manufacturing prowess, Michigan is a key location for aerospace supply chain and engineering companies from around the globe to do business.” 

In addition to the matchmaking meetings,  aerospace summit featured five speakers:

  • Jeff Mason, CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (shown above)
  • Trevor Pawl, group vice president of Mobility, Supply Chain and Trade for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Elise Lancaster, state director for U.S. Senator Gary Peters
  • Dr. David Prichard, president of Pravco, LLC and associate professor and aviation researcher at State University of New York
  • Lorelei Richey, general manager for Pratt and Whitney AutoAir

Ranked among the top ten states for the aerospace industry by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Michigan is home to more than 600 aerospace-related companies and nationally recognized for its access to nine of the ten largest research-and-development facilities. What’s more, with its 17 universities and technical schools with aerospace and aviation curricula, Michigan is a top state for employment per capita of mechanical, industrial and aerospace engineers, supplying the talent needed for aerospace companies to thrive in the state. 

IMG_9941Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) coordinates meetings on behalf of hundreds of Michigan-based companies with purchasing teams from Lockheed Martin, Boeing Research and Technology, Aernnova Aerospace, RCO Aerospace Products and GE Aviation, among others. In general, these companies are looking to purchase services and materials related to CNC machining, metal fabrication, circuit card assembly, electromagnetics, welding, treating, coating, and adhesives, along with architectural and engineering expertise.  

Since 2011, PMBC has spearheaded connections among suppliers and purchasers that have facilitated more than $8 billion in contracts and purchase orders between global companies and qualified Michigan-based companies, all while creating or retaining more than 40,000 jobs in Michigan. Accurate Carbide Tool Co. (ACT), for example, is a company out of Saginaw that provides manufacturing services to automotive and aerospace suppliers and recently benefited from the PMBC’s services. Due to matchmaking connections facilitated by PMBC, ACT was able to connect with the team at Boeing and attend their Supplier Showcase in Seattle, Washington, to pitch its products to their team. The pitch was successful, and four months later ACT had already won 12 purchase contracts with Boeing, resulting in a revenue growth of $60,000 for the Michigan company — all thanks to the opportunities created by PMBC. 

In addition to aerospace, PMBC hosts summits and facilitates contracts for small- and medium-sized Michigan businesses in a range of industries, including automotive, agriculture, aviation, defense and cybersecurity.

Michigan Business Network is an online broadcasting company that provides knowledge, news, and insights into Michigan’s businesses, industries, and economy.