Kaman Aerospace expands global manufacturing presence with site in Mexico

Kaman Aerostructures, a division of Kaman Aerospace Corporation, formally inaugurated its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, recently. On hand for the ceremony were Alberto Chretin Castillo, Secretary of the Economy representing Cesar Horacio Duarte Jaquez, Governor of the State of Chihuahua; Marco Adan Quezada Martinez, Mayor of Chihuahua; Neal J. Keating, Chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Kaman Corporation; Gregory L. Steiner, president of Kaman Aerospace Group; Robert Kanaskie, president of Kaman Aerostructures; and chairman, president and CEO of American Industries, Luis Lara Armendariz.

Kaman Aerostructures' new facility will initially manufacture extrusions and sheet metal details to support the aerospace industry worldwide. Once components are completed in Mexico, the parts will be shipped either to Kaman Aerostructures' manufacturing operations in the U.S. for final assembly into structures or directly to end customers. Kaman Aerostructures plans to grow the Chihuahua facility over time and it could employ as many as 500 people with a potential investment of $10 million. Kaman Aerostructures received business and site selection support from American Industries on this project.

"We are very pleased to open our facility in Chihuahua and are honored to celebrate this occasion in the company of Secretary of the Economy Alberto Chretin and Mayor Marco Adan Quezada," said Keating. "This new plant is part of Kaman's ongoing strategy to grow its global footprint and heighten sourcing, manufacturing, engineering and business development capabilities around the world in support of customers."

"A number of factors were considered in the selection process for the location of this new Kaman facility. Chihuahua scored highly in all criteria and subsequent to the location selection decision, has met all our expectations during the initial start-up phase of the operations," said Kanaskie.

About Kaman
Kaman Aerospace Corporation is a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation. The company, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Conn., conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets. The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. The company is a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates more than 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across North America. Kaman offers more than 3.5 million items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation and MRO supplies to customers in virtually every industry. Additionally, Kaman provides engineering, design and support for automation, electrical, linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well as belting and rubber fabrication, customized mechanical services, hose assemblies, repair, fluid analysis and motor management.