Seven Michigan companies traveling to Mexico to increase aerospace export opportunities

Seven Michigan businesses to join MEDC-led mission in Mexico, Feb. 18-20, 2020 • Trip will increase companies’ export opportunities with crucial trade market

LANSING, Mich.— Business leaders from seven Michigan companies are traveling to Mexico with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to increase their export opportunities in the market. The delegation will take part in the Aerospace Meetings Querétaro.

Aerospace Meetings Querétaro takes place February 18-20, 2020 and is a platform for prime OEMs to connect with companies through a matchmaking program. Michigan companies will meet with potential buyers, partners, and distributors and have the opportunity to expand exports in the region, ultimately growing their businesses and bringing more jobs for Michigan residents.

“This trade mission will open doors for Michigan companies with a key trade partner by connecting them with aerospace commodity buyers from Mexico,” said MEDC CEO Jeff Mason. “The U.S. is Mexico’s largest import market for aerospace manufacturing and this trade mission will provide an opportunity to secure new relationships and opportunities.”

MEDC’s International Trade and Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) programs are coordinating the trade mission to promote bilateral trade. PMBC works to establish procurement and investment demand for Michigan products and services. PMBC team members are attending Aerospace Meetings Querétaro to promote the Michigan aerospace supply base, establish sourcing demand and provide connections to companies in-state following the event.

The Mexican aerospace market has consistently provided opportunities for Michigan companies, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturers that provide value-added products not currently available in Mexico. PMBC has worked with dozens of aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, and the connections the program has made to the Michigan aerospace supply base have resulted in more than $25 million in facilitated revenue since 2013.

Participants will attend a welcome reception and receive an in-country briefing from the Michigan Mexico Center about Mexican business culture, Querétaro’s economy and the region’s aerospace industry. The participating companies are:

• Atom Technology (Clarkston) – Provides control engineering services that bridge the gap between corporate IT systems and the factory floor, gathering important production data and providing stakeholders with critical insight into operations.
• Avon Aerospace (Shelby Twp.) – Manufactures large complex precision components. Engineers products that maximize long-term reliability, durability and overall cost-effectiveness.
• BORIDE Engineered Abrasives (Traverse City) – Develops and manufactures high quality abrasive products for industrial and consumer applications.
• Fluxtrol (Auburn Hills) – Providers of soft magnetic composite (SMC) material that focuses magnetic field and shields magnetic fields where required in many different industries.
• Jemms-Cascade Inc. (Troy) – Engineers and manufacturers nutrunner attachments for every industry and application.
• Proper Tooling (Warren) – Manufactures complex tooling and high-performance polymer products in the automotive, lighting and industrial markets.
• RJ Logistics (Southfield) – Provides customized transportation solutions throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

According to the Mexican Federation of Aerospace Industry (FEMIA), Mexico is the 12th largest aerospace manufacturing country with more than 400 facilities which include OEMs, Tier 1 to 4 suppliers, MRO operations for commercial and civil aviation, as well as engineering and design firms. At 73 percent, the U.S. is Mexico’s largest import market for aerospace manufacturing.

MEDC's International Trade Program is committed to increasing Michigan’s exporting opportunities by helping businesses identify and enter key emerging foreign markets. Export sales facilitated by the MEDC International Trade program totaled more than $682 million in fiscal year 2019, surpassing the goal of $580 million. This puts the International Trade program-to-date total facilitated export sales at $3.35 billion. Top reported countries for export sales include Mexico, Canada, China, and the United Kingdom.

Pure Michigan Business Connect is a free MEDC service that identifies procurement, engineering, and other supply chain opportunities from local, national, and global companies and proactively seeks to connect them to qualified Michigan companies and partners. To find out more about how PMBC can help forge partnerships and grow businesses, visit https://www.michiganbusiness.org/services/pure-michigan-business-connect/.

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.