Summit's new 40,000 square-foot facility nearly doubles the space the plant had in two locations — one at the Lake Cumberland Regional Airport and another in a portion of the old Crane building.
According to Ralph Kunz, Vice President and General Manager, Summit’s Somerset operations began in 2007 as a labor-only supplier to Schweizer Aircraft. The plant has since grown from five employee—one of whom is still with Summit—to 32, with the hope of adding 20-30 more over the next two years.
Kunz recounted efforts to meet deadlines for a new products in praise of local Summit employees’ work ethic and ingenuity.
Quadrupling its business over the last four years, the manufacturing facility is a full-service provider to build aerostructure product assemblies for a variety of military and commercial helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The company’s clients and partners include Sikorsky, Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Bombardier Learjet, Prox Dynamics and the United States military.
“Our growth is a testament to the hard work of our employees, the strong partnerships we have formed over the years and the new ones we are creating,” Kunz said. “Additionally, our collaboration with local investors and the Pulaski County government is proving beneficial for not only our business but also our employees and this community.”
Congressman Hal Rogers was on hand to extend his congratulations.
“Summit’s expansion is a great way to celebrate 10 years of productivity and job creation in Somerset,” Rogers said. “I am grateful that this impressive company chose to utilize our world-class workforce to manufacture aviation products that are used by our U.S. military and others. I applaud Summit’s continued success and commitment to our region.”
The congressman praised the employees of not only Summit Aviation but operations around the region including Stearns and Morehead that are working with leading-edge technology. He pointed out Somerset Community College now offers an aviation maintenance technology program to better prepare students for such careers.
“We have proven time and again that we can do this stuff,” Rogers said. “This region has a history of coming to the cause. In World War II, we had more volunteers per capita than any other area in the country. So we love to volunteer…and I guess it says we love to fight. But we’re proving here that we can do modern age commerce.”
Headquartered in Middletown, Delaware, Summit Aviation is a subsidiary of Greenwich AeroGroup which provides aviation services including maintenance, avionics and interior refurbishments; fixed base operations; aircraft sales, charters and management; manufacturing; component repair and parts distribution.
Original article can be found here: http://www.richmondregister.com
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