Aerospace Summit takes flight, builds on state’s supply chain assets, rising industry profile

Largest gathering of global purchasers, Michigan suppliers Matchmaking meeting Feb. 21 at LCA in DetroitPMBC facilitates nearly $5.73B in revenue for state businesses

LANSING, Mich. – The idea took flight at last summer’s Paris Air Show in France.

Gov. Rick Snyder attended the acclaimed international gathering of aviation and aerospace companies and suppliers, and pointed to an opportunity for Michigan to expand the scope and impact of its summit. Eight months later, the Pure Michigan Business Connect Aerospace Summit to be held Feb. 21 at Little Caesars Arena (LCA) in Detroit will feature the largest aerospace business gathering ever hosted by the state.

More than 20 global purchasers will be on hand to connect with 430 or more Michigan suppliers to the international aerospace industry. More than networking, the summit provides Michigan companies with one-on-one pitches to large- and medium-aerospace industry purchasers from around the world along with U.S.-based companies from California and Washington.

“PMBC brings multiple buyers and suppliers together in one place for one day, saving business development teams time and resources,” said Jeff Mason, CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state’s marketing arm that administers programs and conducts due diligence on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Since 2011, PMBC summits have brought together purchasers and suppliers in diverse industries, including agriculture, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and energy. The matchmaking gatherings have facilitated $5.73 billion in revenue for Michigan companies, while creating or retaining 27,941 jobs.

“Michigan is the ideal location for aerospace supply chain and engineering companies, and many of the most innovative and proven suppliers in the industry,” said Trevor Pawl, vice president, international trade and procurement programs, MEDC. He noted nine of the 10 largest U.S.-based aerospace/defense R&D firms are located in the state.

“The aerospace industry supply chain has many similarities to the automotive industry supply chain with tiers of suppliers, original equipment manufacturers (airframers), and maintenance and repair operations,” said Pawl. “The summit is a timely and strategic gathering that is considered a catalyst for economic growth in one of the state’s top growing industries.”

Caravan Facilities Management, a minority-owned company based in Saginaw, will be among the more than 400 participants at the Aerospace Summit. The company received a $300,000 contract from KUKA, a Chinese-owned German manufacturer of industrial robots, based on participating at the 2016 PMBC Flint Matchmaking Summit.

At the summit, purchasing companies submit a list of procurement needs. In turn, suppliers respond either immediately or through PMBC’s online application.

Global aerospace companies at the summit include Aernnova Aerospace, Boeing Research and Technology, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, GE Aviation, Liebherr Aerospace & Transportation, and TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries).

Michigan’s aerospace and defense companies maintain contracts with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and NASA. Defense-related procurement contracts and grants increased by 7.5 percent from 2014 ($2.81B) to 2016 ($3.03B), according to the Michigan Defense Center. A major attraction for purchasers and companies looking to locate in Michigan is the state’s diverse landscape of research-and-development facilities, and nation-leading concentration of engineers.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers survey conducted in 2017, Michigan ranks second as most attractive state for aerospace manufacturing and R&D facilities based on operating costs, taxes, industry size, talent, and education attainment.

Michigan ranks only behind California and Texas in occupations in primary demand by aerospace industry; and, aerospace-related employment in the state grew by 36 percent from 2010-17, the fastest in the nation during that period.

In addition to organizing the aerospace summit, PMBC arranges tours for suppliers (such as Boeing Research and Technology) to meet Michigan companies. PMBC’s involvement with Boeing has resulted in more than 500 contracts and purchase orders worth over $15 million awarded to Michigan companies since 2013.

For companies interested in the 2018 PMBC Aerospace Summit, please contact Ryan Michael, [email protected] or visit pmbc.connect.space

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.