Representatives of five New Hampshire companies say they made valuable connections recently at an aerospace trade show in Canada, which they say will lead to new orders and export opportunities.
Accompanied by state officials, including Gov. John Lynch and Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner George Bald, the group was the largest contingent of any state at the Aero Montreal Global Supply Chain Summit, which concluded Friday. Lynch was the only governor attending. The summit brings together aerospace companies from around the world, providing opportunities for networking and developing relationships that lead to new business for those that are able to supply the manufacturers of aircraft.
Tech Resources of Milford employs about 30 people and Michael Barrett, director of advanced programs, said he has made several trips on his own to Montreal in hopes of getting an appointment with someone who could evaluate his company's low drag antennas that reduce fuel consumption. Sometimes it can take years to meet with the right people, but in this one trip, I'm meeting with people from Bombardier and Lockheed, Barrett said, adding that meetings were arranged by Lynch and staff at the Division of Economic Development's International Trade Resource Center. We're introducing a new product and looking at substantive growth.
The trade mission to the aerospace summit was underwritten by the State Trade and Export Promotion grant. New Hampshire is receiving nearly $300,000 in the second year of the program, which is administered by the Small Business Administration.
Jeff Stimson of Orion Wire in North Haverhill employs seven people at the company, which specializes in custom engineered wire and cable applications. We probably would not have been able to get our foot in the door and I don't think we would ever meet the same level of people on our own, Stimson said. He, like the other Granite State companies represented, say the aim of attending the summit is to get more work and grow their businesses.
New Hampshire was the only New England state represented at the aerospace summit, said Christopher Way, interim director of the Division of Economic Development. It's extremely beneficial for us and our companies, who are getting to meet with some prime contractors, he said. A lot of them will make connections, they will get new business and it will lead to new jobs.
The other companies represented included Axenics in Nashua, which employs 40 people; EPTAM Plastics of Northfield, with 108 employees and Corfin Industries of Salem, with about 80 workers. We've found the right people here and things have gone very well, said Arnie Markowitz of Corfin Industries. We expect to get more business from this.
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