Rockford Area Aerospace Companies to Showcase Internationally

ROCKFORD - Local leaders and area business executives announced once again today they will be showcasing Greater Rockford companies at this year's Farnborough Air show outside London.  This is the third time in the last four years Rockford area businesses have had a presence at the show. 

The companies will be under the wing of the State of Illinois, bringing along six small to medium sized companies from across the state - two from the Rockford area.

The goal is to drum up business for smaller companies who don't have the ability to showcase on their own.  Companies like Regal Cutting Tools, whose international business accounts for less than 2% of their overall sales.  Larger area companies like Hamilton Sunstrand have a presence there as well, but showcase on their own, not with the State of Illinois.

"We're getting a good reputation in the aerospace business as a cutting tools supplier," said Dennis Weiland, Regal Cutting Tools plant manager. "So as we move and our name gets our there more for that, I believe that'll help spur our growth."

Regal Cutting Tools employs 101 people at the Roscoe plant, and the company is already experiencing growth.  Just this year alone the company added 12 new jobs to address increased sales.  Only 15-20% of the company's business comes from the aerospace industry, something they want to change.

"If we can grow the foreign sales along with the aerospace business it just helps us grow and provide jobs," said Weiland.

Eric Voyles, Vice President of National Business Development for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council says it's important for local companies to be a part of the state's exhibit at the air show.  The council brings aerospace and other companies to domestic trade shows as well.

"These are on going things that we're doing for our aerospace companies," said Voyles. "That's helping them create bottom-line results that's helping grow these companies which is in turn growing the demand for workforce."

With demand for aerospace workers growing in and around the Forest City, RAEDC is hoping to educate the future in the realm of engineering.  They just introduced their Joint Institute of Engineering and Technology Aerospace program last month.  It's a program encouraging local kids to get involved with engineering from as early as grade school.  The program also works with Rock Valley College and other area higher-learning institutions to channel students to area businesses and encourage home-grown aerospace talent.

"We should be able to graduate more engineers to work at the local companies in our market if we can make engineering more accessible to our residents," said Voyles.