EPPM spoke with Oklahoma Commerce Aerospace and Defense Manager and Oklahoma ACES Programme Manager Leshia Pearson ahead of JEC World 2020 to find out what the US state is doing to attract more business, address skills gaps, and boost innovation in composites.
Lightweight, flame-retardant composites for the aviation and automotive sectors are driving innovations globally. Amongst this gathering ubiquity, what is it about Oklahoma’s contributions that sets it apart?
Easy access to raw materials and a high concentration of aerospace manufacturers and companies involved with wind energy generation. These have been contributing factors to the establishment of a pole of excellence in composites in Oklahoma. Companies are also helping develop next-generation materials.
Oklahoma ACES
Flying ACES
Leshia Pearson
McClarin Plastics, for example, is a premier manufacturer of highly engineered thermoformed plastic, fibre glass-reinforced plastic, composite products and complex assemblies. Based in Oklahoma City, McClarin produces PP and composite fibre glass products and custom parts for numerous industries – including aerospace, construction, and transportation.
And what is it about Europe-based trade fairs that US-based organisations find so appealing?
Attending industry events such as JEC World represents a key way for Oklahoma to meet leaders in the composites industry, all in one place. We can be more efficient with our time and energy, and ensure the message gets to the key players.
Which US or state government and academic institutions are available to those seeking entry to Oklahoma’s materials development industry?
JEC World
Flying ACES
Oklahoma’s universities, community colleges and CareerTech all play a unique role in building a pipeline of workers with material development skills, whether via STEM programmes, research and development, or partnerships. Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma both offer top material development graduate programmes intended to research and develop next generation materials and applications, while our community colleges, CareerTech and workforce development programmes put these theories to work. Academia, working with industry partners, are looking to the future by investing in schools, composites materials training, 3D printing materials research, composite and 3D printing production technologies, speeding the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.
How is Oklahoma’s ACES helping to catalyse materials innovations in high-end applications?
The Aerospace Commerce Economic Services (ACES), a state legislated program dedicated to growing Oklahoma’s aerospace industry, is helping raise awareness among corporate executives working within the aerospace industry about the value that Oklahoma has to offer, as well as build connections between composite companies and Oklahoma aerospace companies.
If you couple this with Oklahoma’s reputation for innovation and ingenuity, its skilled engineering workforce, and its growing composites sector with its newly established Automotive Engineer Workforce Tax Credit, Oklahoma is helping create new business opportunities for European composite companies.
Aerospace and defence is Oklahoma’s second largest industry. In what ways has composite materials facilitated this?
Oklahoma is home to more than 1,100 aerospace entities, ranging from giants such as Boeing, Nordam, Spirit Aerosystems, American Airlines, AAR and the largest military MRO operation at Tinker Air Force Base, to SMEs such as Vertical Aerospace, Aircraft Specialties Services, and Covington Aircraft.
A key factor to Oklahoma successfully attracting aerospace companies has been its unique Aerospace Industry Engineer Workforce Tax Credit, which benefits both employers and employees. Now that the same terms are available to automotive players, the hope is that this will attract new companies.
So why are aerospace companies having to scramble to fill these positions?
Low unemployment; persisting resistance to trade certifications in favour of four-year degrees; and the lingering reputation of mechanical occupations as ‘dirty jobs’. But there’s a new generation in Oklahoma realising the value of those jobs. There are new efforts to fill the talent pipeline before it’s too late. Thanks to ongoing efforts throughout the state, there’s a growing awareness of career opportunities related to professional certifications. Oklahoma is on the front line of addressing this workforce shortage.