State companies pitch services at annual airshow in England

A summer trip to England might make for a fun vacation, but the 63-person contingent from Connecticut’s aerospace industry was all business earlier this month when they participated in the Farnborough International Airshow.

A total of 11 Connecticut companies made the trip and were exhibitors in the state’s pavillion at the air show, which ran from July 11-17. The pavilion was sponsored by the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology.

Bart Kollen, deputy commissioner with the DECD, said Connecticut has sent a contingent of state officials to Farnborough for the past 11 years. The companies each paid $11,000 for to participate in the Connecticut pavillion, Kollen said.

That payment was in addition to whatever travel costs the participating companies incurred getting to the airshow. The companies are eligible to apply to a federal grant program that can be used to help reduce the expenses for the trip, Kollen said.

This year, Farnborough had 400 exhibitors and 1,400 booths, he said. Some of the companies that attend the airshow are big enough to have their own booth, according to Kollen.

“It’s an opportunity to meet with everybody in aerospace: clients, buyers, suppliers,” he said.

Companies participating in the Connecticut pavilion have realized $400 million in sales since 2006 that can be tied directly to their participation at the air show.

“Last year, 10 companies participated and brought back $69 million in sales associated with the air show,” Kollen said. “Some of the companies that participate in the pavilion have been doing it for 11 years. They wouldn’t keep doing it if it wasn’t effective.”

Among the companies attending this year were Dexmet Corp., based in Wallingford, and Aero Cision from Chester. Dexmet makes materials that protect aircraft from lightning strikes while Aero Cision makes high-tolerance rings and casings for turbine-engine manufacturers.

Andrew Gibson, Aero Cision’s chief executive officer, said the state’s pavilion at the air show “is perfect for us in terms of scale and attraction.”

“Setting up our own relevant booth in a first-class manner is beyond our reach in terms of cost and effort,” Gibson said. “You can get deals done here very quickly. It’s very effective.”