20 MAA and Torino Piemonte companies meet

Seven aerospace suppliers from the Torino-Piemonte aerospace cluster in Italy visited the MAA last week and spent three days meeting with 13 MAA members to develop new business relationships and discuss new technologies.

The visit was a reciprocal trade mission to last May when 10 MAA members travelled to Italy to hold 1-to-1 meetings with buyers from Alenia Aermacchi, Avio, and UTC (Mictrotecnica), as well as AgustaWestland and Secondo Mona from the Lombardy cluster.

The Italian suppliers which visited the Midlands held meetings with Gardner, Meggitt, Moog and Nasmyth as well as visiting the Manufacturing Technology Centre. Another nine MAA members met and networked with the Italians at a special drinks reception.  The Italian cluster’s technology manager Erika Manis swopped notes on their cluster’s new technology initiatives and NATEP with the MAA’s Bridget Day and Peter Knight.

Diana Giorgini, Project Manager for Torino Piemonte Aerospace, was delighted by the outcome of the visit. “Thanks to the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, we were able to learn about real business opportunities in the Midlands cluster, as well as set the groundwork for building research partnerships in future. We really value our relationship with the MAA and we are keen to carry on reciprocating so that each cluster continues to benefit equally!"

According to Dr Andrew Mair, MAA Chief Executive, investing in a long-term relationship with Torino Piemonte Aerospace is already paying dividends for the Midlands. “Our Italian friends were able to open doors to some key Italian customers for us last May,” he said, “and the seven companies who came with the MAA to the Aerospace and Defence Meetings Torino last October also discovered just how well organised and hospitable this Italian cluster is.”

Reception for Midlands Aerospace Alliance and Torino Piemonte Aerospace clusters