Click HERE for a MLI overview

Michigan Launch Initiative

Michigan is entering the race to commercialize Low Earth Orbit space. The space launch market was estimated to be over $8.8 billion in 2017 and is projected to grow to over $27 billion by 2025... a compounded annual growth rate of over 15%.

Morgan Stanley estimates that the global space industry could generate revenue of $1.1 trillion by 2040, up from $350 billion today.

Presented By: 

Michigan Air Force Assn (AFA) & AFA "Selfridge" Chapter 179

Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association

NASA Astronaut Josh A. Cassada; Ken Dunn, SLS Manager, John Couch, VP Futuramic, Rob Flinn, Sales Manager, Futuramic.

Below: Astronaut Cassada presents Futuramic employee Matthew J. Ososky with the Silver Snoopy Award.

May 21, 2019 Warren, Michigan
NASA honored MAMA member Futuramic with its Supplier of the Year Award.

NASA astronaut Josh Cassada, NASA officials and Boeing representatives visited Futuramic on May 21 to present the "Supplier of the Year" award and to talk about the SLS rocket and Michigan’s role in advancing the agency’s deep space exploration efforts.

"Who would have imagined Futuramic would be helping put boots on the moon with eyes to Mars when the founder first opened our doors in 1955?" said John Couch, Futuramic vice president.

As a key supplier, Futuramic is helping NASA and Boeing, the SLS prime contractor, to complete assembly of the rocket’s core stage for EM-1 at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Also during the May 21 event, 40-year Futuramic employee Matt Ososky was awarded NASA's Silver Snoopy Award by Astronaut Cassada.  The Snoopy is a silver lapel pin that has been flown in space and is awarded to those who have made a unique and critical contribution to a NASA program's success. 

Matt developed a complete integrated manufacturing, sub assembly, factory assembly, shipping and final assembly system for the SLS Core Stage Simulator. Matt's project saved millions of dollars and months of time vs. conventional techniques.

Space Foundation's
35^th Space Symposium

MAMA members were well represented at the 35th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs April 8^th thru 11^th.  Leaders from commercial, government and military space from around the world attended to discuss, address and plan for future achievements in space.

MAMA Member Atlas Space Operations' Sean McDaniel and Mike Carey joined with MAMA's Gavin Brown at the 35th Space Symposium.

MAMA and several member companies were pleased to participate in the Pure Michigan Aerospace Summit held April 10th at Ford Field in Detroit.  Download: Instructions for doing business with Lockheed Martin

Click for PDF of Flight Plan 2025

Michigan could enter the satellite launch business by 2022

Michigan was a major force in the early Space Age, when Chrysler made rockets that carried astronauts and General Motors built the electric buggies they used to explore the moon.

Click HERE for article

Click on photo for video

Blast Off: How northern Michigan is launching as an aerospace contender

Satellites, spaceports, and heat-treated aircraft parts: these are a few elements of Traverse City’s growing aerospace industry.

Click HERE for article

Rockets' Red Glare

Michigan's aerospace industry plans to install launch facility by 2022.

Click HERE for article

Enjoy "Rise of the Rockets" by NOVA on PBS.

New technologies are making rockets cheaper and more powerful than ever before. As companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic make space more accessible, and NASA returns to crewed spaceflight, a new era of space exploration may be on the horizon.

“Business Over Breakfast”

MAMA Executive Director Gavin Brown presented “Michigan’s Launch Initiative & Potential Impact on Michigan’s Economy” at the Michigan Air Force Association's inaugural "Business Over Breakfast" event held Wednesday February 20, 2019 at Villa Penna in Sterling Heights. More than seventy business and community leaders attended.

AFA President Randy Whitmire presents MAMA Executive Director Gavin Brown with an official AFA necktie.

A MAMA delegation led by Gavin Brown, MAMA Executive Director, met with Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson to brief her and her staff about the Michigan Launch Initiative.

The Northern Michigan Business Consortium, coordinated by Adam Williams, met to review the technology and economic development opportunities associated with the Michigan Launch Initiative.

Representatives of Governor Whitmer (D) and Senator Peters (D), US Representatives Jack Bergman (R) and Paul Mitchell (R), Michigan Senators Wayne Schmidt (R), Rosemary Bayer (D), Adam Hollier (D), Dan Lauwers (R), Mallory McMorrow (D), Mike Shirkey (R), Jim Stamas (R), Paul Wojno (D) and Michael MacDonald (R), Michigan Representatives Joe Tate (D) and Sue Allor (R) have been briefed on the MLI

Air Force Research Laboratory

Industry Day

Click Here for list of 2018 Space Symposium Speakers

Tim Keating, Executive Vice-President of Boeing; Richard Rassel, Chairman of Butzel Long; Gavin Brown, Executive Director of MAMA; Dennis Muilenburg, President and CEO of Boeing.

Rachel Burke, Baker Industries, Mark Irby, Futuramic Tool & Engineering

Jennifer Lowe, Boeing; Tim Keating, Boeing; Gavin Brown, MAMA; Jamie Tollon, Futuramic; Paul Weisbrich, D.A. Davidson & Co.; Richard Rassel, Butzel Long. 

MAMA member Barron Industries is exhibiting at the Farnborough International Airshow July 16^th thru 20^th. 

Barron Industries recently won an Investment Casting Institute award for an aerospace component the company converted from a fabrication made of five separate machined parts that were bolted and welded together. 

AS9100D Certified and NADCAP accredited for non-destructive testing.

Learn more CLICK HERE

www.barron-industries.com

Sterling Heights, MI - MAMA was privileged to sponsor the Italian Trade Agencies' INNOVATION DAYS 2018 event in Michigan. Attending companies browsed the Italian participants' innovations in materials, machines, and processes and had the opportunity to engage in B2B meetings with prospective customers, suppliers and partners.

On May 23rd & 24th the US-Korea Business Summit 2018 included a track on Aerospace and Defense co-hosted by MAMA.  Korean and US companies interested in exporting and/or developing joint ventures/partnerships benefited from information packed presentations and B2B meetings. 

Next Opportunity to Connect:

May 10 & 11, 2018

"With this initiative, we are going out to listen to Americans from higher education to small and large businesses to understand what basic and applied technologies will help us create the next game-changing inventions for 2030 and beyond."

The MAMA Delegation to the United States Air Force Science and Technology 2030 workshop at Indiana University was warmly received. The delegation presented six different new technology and research proposals that will help the USAF fulfill their mission objectives.

At $16 billion, India’s aviation market is currently the 9th largest in the world and is expected to be the 3rd largest by 2020, and by 2030, the largest. Over the next decade, the market is expected to reach 337 million domestic and 84 million international passengers. This growth will create demand for new aircraft, air navigation service technologies, airport security equipment, and increased infrastructure.

India is one of the largest importers of conventional defense equipment in the world. India imports approximately 60% of its defense requirements. This year’s capital expenditure budget of $12.72 billion has increased slightly from last year. We anticipate significant opportunities for U.S. exporters in the defense sub-sectors.

Mr. Shantanu Sarkar, Commercial Advisor in the U.S. Commercial Service office in Kolkata, lead a roundtable discussion of the opportunities for aerospace and defense companies who wish to take advantage India's rapidly growing aerospace and defense sectors.

9th Annual Michigan Defense Expo

Over 2,500 visitors attending the MDEX had the opportunity to visit the MAMA pavilion and meet with a variety of MAMA members: 5ME, LLC; Chemical Bank; Futuramic Tool & Engineering; GAEMS; KOTRA, Sugino, Sharp Cutter, Omnico AGV; SA Partners; Sciaky, Inc.; Sharp Cutter Grinding Company and Sugino Corporation. MAMA pavilion exhibitors hosted a continental breakfast for early-bird attendees to kick-off two days of networking, lead generation and knowledge gathering.  

April 25, 2018
Michigan's Role in Missile Defense

Gavin Brown, Executive Director, Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association; Major General Michael A. Stone, Commander, 46th Military Police Command, Assistant Adjutant General - Army Michigan National Guard and Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, and John Couch, Vice President, Futuramic Tool & Engineering Company; engaged MDEX attendees in a wide ranging review of Michigan's Role in Missile Defense. From Michigan's role in Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), to launching of a constellation of low orbit satellites, to harnessing Michigan's manufacturing excellence, "Michigan's Role in Missile Defense" was fully reviewed.  

Michigan Senator tours Oxford Aerospace Supplier

Senator Jim Marleau (R-District 12) met Barron Industries President Bruce Barron when he joined a group of other Michigan companies at the State Capital for the first ever Aerospace Day organized by MAMA earlier this year. 

Since Barron Industries is located in the senator’s district, Barron invited him to tour the metal manufacturing plant, and Marleau, who put himself through college working at a die casting operation, took him up on the offer.

Click Here for full press release

MAMA member Jedco, Inc., of Grand Rapids, has announced plans to invest over $9 million dollars expanding their manufacturing facilities and adding new machinery and equipment.  The investment, made over the next three years, will result in approximately 40 new full-time jobs.

Jedco Inc. serves the precision metal fabrication needs of the aerospace industry.  Jedco Inc. is a leading supplier of fabricated sheet metal and complex machined assemblies to the domestic and global aerospace industry. Jedco manufactures titanium fabrications, combustion chamber assemblies, transition ducts, heat shields and exhaust nozzles/mixer ducts for military aircraft engines.

Wall Colmonoy is pleased to announce its 80th Anniversary of business. “Making Metals Work Harder Since 1938”.

"Making Metals Work Harder Since 1938" highlights Wall Colmonoy’s innovative products and services which are fundamental in keeping airplanes in the sky, glass bottles in production, food fresh, pumps pumping, nuclear turbines powering, and transportation greener.

Wall Colmonoy is a global materials engineering group of companies engaged in the manufacture of advanced metal coatings and components. It was established in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan by Albert F. Wall.

Click Here to read the full press release

David Novak, Gonzalez Group; Gavin Brown, MAMA; and
Phil Chizek, LIFT at 2018 Pure Michigan Aerospace Summit.

Detroit, MI The 2018 Pure Michigan Aerospace Summit held on February 21 at the Little Caesars Arena attracted over 400 Michigan companies interested in growing in the aerospace sector.

MAMA member Boeing was honored to be awarded the Pure Michigan Business Connect Supply Chain Achievement Award at the summit.

MAMA was again recognized for its role in helping Michigan be ranked #2 in aerospace investment attractiveness: 

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association continues to support the industry through research and development in the aerospace supply chain. While identifying opportunities for cost savings, the association has taken a proactive stance in the development of additive manufacturing technology and battery logistics. These efforts have helped attract investment in Michigan’s aerospace industry.

The full report can be found here.

Lansing, Michigan

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (MAMA) held an Aerospace Day at the Michigan Capitol Building on January 31, 2018. 

MAMA members met with their legislators to highlight the economic impact the aerospace industry contributes to Michigan's economy.

Several MAMA members had information tables in the 1st Floor West Corridor of the Capitol building.

Weldaloy sponsored a Box Lunch for the Legislators, Senior Staff and MAMA members.

Click on image for full version

Seung Hoon Shin, Director General, KOTRA Detroit and Gavin Brown, Executive Director, MAMA

Click here to read official letter

Michigan, December 13, 2017
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association agree to jointly arrange a trade mission  involving a select group of Korean aerospace/defense suppliers visiting Michigan in early 2018. 

Taking the Cost out of the Cost

Washington, D.C. December 7, 2017
During a break in testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, regarding Department of Defense Acquisition Reform Efforts, the Honorable Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, met with Gavin Brown, MAMA Executive Director and Anil Menawat Ph.D. President and COO of MAMA member Menawat and Company.

Mr. Brown and Dr. Menawat traveled to Washington to brief Senators, Representatives and Department of Defense officials on MAMA's Aggregate Demand Model (ADM) that is powered by Menawat's ProFIT-MAP Technology.

ADM integrates supply networks through advanced collaboration technology which reduces costs, improves quality, speeds delivery, and mitigates acquisition risks.

The Honorable Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), Gavin P. Brown, MAMA Executive Director and Anil Menawat, Ph.D., President and COO of Menawat & Company. Washington D.C. 12/7/17

MAMA Member 5ME's Ice Cold Machining Open House event at their Warren, Michgan Technology Center was a huge success! 

Held on November 9^th, the event had an attendance of nearly 100 people with companies represented from coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico; all of whom were looking for ways to improve their manufacturing efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize profitability. 

Showcasing our patented 5ME® Cryogenic Machining Technology and FREEDOM™ IoT Software Platform, 5ME demonstrated next generation manufacturing of Titanium, Steel, and Iron components. With key launch partners such as Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, 5ME looks to work with MAMA on making Michigan a key state in the advancement of aerospace manufacturing technologies.

Visit 5ME's website by clicking HERE

See video of impact on F-35 by clicking HERE

Senate Passes Defense Bill with Peters Provisions to Boost Michigan Defense Industry, Military Installations

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today helped pass major defense legislation with over a dozen provisions he authored supporting Michigan’s growing defense industry and boosting America’s military preparedness. The final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which sets Department of Defense (DoD) policy was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate this week with bipartisan support and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Click here for highlights of Senator Peter's provisions in the NDAA.

MAMA Member Mobile Video Computing Solutions Expands Operations

D. Scott Watkins, CEO has announced that the proven value of mobile video monitoring center has driven the need to expand both facilities and personnel.  The Troy, Michigan facility will increase its footprint by 50% and triple the number of employees in order to help us execute our plan to support tens of thousands of vehicles across the country.

October 2017

  Sacheon-si, Korea

MAMA led delegation to the Aerospace Global Business Plaza 2017 in Sacheon-si, South Korea in October 2017.  

Pictured left are:  Martin Buchmueller, Managing Director, Thyssenkrupp Aerospace; Chang Yup-Na, Directoer General of Global Business Cooperation Department at KOTRA and Gavin Brown, Executive Director, Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association. Pictured right are: Kim Boram, Translator & Interpreter and  Gavin Brown, Executive Director, Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association.

 

Sponsored by:

"A quicker, better and more cost effective solution is to harness the competitive innovation that animates the most robust and creative economy the world has ever seen – the USA’s private sector."

PwC's 2017 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Ranking report has been released. The USA continues to be the #1 ranked country with Michigan ranked #2 amongst the states. 

The index is based on a weighted score of ranking categories that include: Labor, Infrastructure, Industry, Economy, Cost and Tax Policy.

In it's commentary on Michigan (page 5) the report states: 

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association continues to support the industry through research and development in the aerospace supply chain. While identifying opportunities for cost savings, the association has taken a proactive stance in the development of additive manufacturing technology and battery logistics. These efforts have helped attract investment in Michigan’s aerospace industry.

The full report can be found here.

Sciaky joins Siemens PLM Software Solution Partner Program as a Software and Technology Partner

CHICAGO, Illinois –  Sciaky, Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Service Indusries, INc. (PSI) and leading provider of metal additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, today announced it will adopt product life-cycle management (PLM) software technology from Siemens to support its industry-leading Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM®) solution. Click Here For Full Press Release

MG Leonard Isabelle, Assistant Adjunct General and Commander of the Michigan Air National Guard; MG David G. Bassett, US Army Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems; BG John D. Slocum, Commander, 127th Wing, Selfridge ANGB; Rich Choppa, Boeing Strategic Defense and Intelligence Systems (SDIS); Michael Howard, Principal at Arbor Strategic Advisors LLC. Were speakers at the meeting

Michigan State Senator Patrick Colbeck, U of M Masters in Aerospace Engineering, addressed MAMA members and guests. 

Major General David Bassett, Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems

MAMA Executive Director Gavin Brown kicked-off the meeting with a report on the activities of the MAMA Delegation to the 2017 Paris Airshow and side trip to Airbus Helicopters, Safran Aircraft Engines, Henri Fabre Technocentre and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, Provence, France.

Attendees were briefed on the Overview and Outlook for the Commercial, Military and Business Aviation markets, the Satellite and Missile markets, the Ground Combat Systems market and updated on the status of the Ground-based Missile Defense third missile field and the ANG F-35 basing decision.

MAMA Members enjoyed a post-meeting opportunity to network with the presenters and fellow MAMA members.

MAMA News

July - Weldaloy's Rolled Ring Forging Process Deliver a Better Product in Less Time

dbusiness magazine - Report: Michigan Ranked No. 2 for Aerospace Manufacturing Facilities

July - MAMA Supports Ex-Im

September - MAMA anti-poaching effort

July - MAMA-HELP Program Summary

March - Michigan Senate Proclamation to Ghana Delegation

March - MAMA-HELP Announced