State leaders are making a push to increase business between the state’s aerospace industry and aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Toward that effort, state officials says they met with more than 130 representatives from 90 Ohio businesses this week.
In 2013, Airbus spent $6.1 billion in Ohio. That puts the state at the top of the list for the company’s US spending, and Vice President of Procurement for Airbus Americas, David Williams says they want to buy even more of their parts and supplies here in Ohio.
“The growth is clear to see," he said. "And I expect our partnership with Ohio to continue to create more growth in the future for our civil business, our defense and space, and our helicopter division.”
Ohio’s aerospace industry employs more than a hundred thousand people; US Senator Sherrod Brown says that makes the state a big player.
“Ohio helps power the world’s plane—pure and simple. Every two seconds, somewhere in the world a plane takes off with Ohio manufactured components as part of that plane," the senator declared.
Airbus is working to identify companies that could become part of their supply chain and give Ohio businesses a leg up in the process.
Monday's conference took place at the National Composites Center, an Airbus partner, on Monday. The event was co-hosted by Rep. Mike Turner, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, and David Williams.
