When Wilson L. Fenn decided to open a small machine shop in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1900, he couldn’t have predicted what the next hundred years would bring.
He likely couldn’t have foreseen the Wright Brothers’ first airplane flight in 1903 or the arrival of Sikorsky’s first practical helicopter in 1939.
The small machine shop founded over a century ago would ultimately become PCX Aerostructures, a versatile producer of helicopter and fixed-wing assemblies that works with the biggest names in both industries.
Today, the company operates as a trusted aerospace supplier that puts customers first, going far beyond what is expected and aiming to be extraordinary in everything it does.
“We’re always looking out for our customers,” said Kathy Morin, marketing manager for PCX Aerostructures. “I think that’s one very resounding theme here — we’re always looking ahead, even further out than our customers do.
“This mentality we’ve adopted really sets us apart.”
Key to the company’s present success are its engineering expertise and capabilities in the precision machining of hard alloys, guided by significant investments in high-quality production equipment.
“We’ve put a lot of new capital equipment into the business in order to support the technology that’s required to be competitive on tight tolerance components,” said Trevor Hartman, vice-president of sales and marketing for PCX Aerostructures.
“From a machining standpoint, it’s really critical that we make investments in the right type of equipment,” he added.
“These aren’t your run-of-the-mill milling or turning machines. These are, on average, $1.5 million to $2 million machining centers that we use to stay competitive, reduce cycle time and also maintain the tolerancing that’s required on the parts we make.”
PCX Aerostructures sees this as a key advantage over its competitors.
“Some peer companies aren’t reinvesting wisely in the capital equipment side of their business. Those are the companies that we’re gaining market share on right now,” said Hartman.
PCX Aerostructures is headquartered in Newington, Connecticut, but also has facilities in Long Island, New York, and Mansfield, Texas. The company has over 260 employees and more than 250,000 square feet of floor space across the three locations. High quality precision machining of large structural airframe components and assemblies is vital to the company’s business strategy to compete for work globally. As a premier fabricator of both wing and fuselage components as well as complex subassemblies, PCX designed an expansive, state-of-the-art assembly area to support rapid growth.
“We have the resources, both financial and equipment-wise, to invest with our customers in new programs and work with them on development, but still maintain that nimble, small company customer service atmosphere,” said Hartman.
Also noteworthy are the company’s vertically integrated processing capabilities, which allow PCX to keep a wide-ranging set of services contained under one roof.
“Key processes such as non-destructive testing, heat treating, painting and final assembly are done in-house,” said Hartman. “We have a motto: ‘Complete solutions, one provider.'”
PCX Aerostructures is able to produce both basic and complex assemblies, from simple components to larger jobs like assembling mixer kits and full main rotor and tail rotor systems.
“PCX always aims to provide value to our customers. We’re seen as a strong partner… whether it’s our approach to problem solving or trying to further reduce manufacturing lead times,” said Morin.
“We really have that type of select skill here, and top OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] and Tier 1s see us as a valued partner.”
Morin also emphasized the fact that PCX Aerostructures is quite adept at working with and using advanced precision machining equipment to hold extremely tight tolerances on very complex structures.
“This is something easy to say but hard to do, and we’ve mastered it,” said Morin. “I think we’re one of a select few companies operating today that can do this precise type of machining. It’s our niche.
“It’s something that we’re very proud of, and especially when it comes to critical safety items in the world of rotorcraft.”
With strong roots and a notable reputation, PCX remains focused on future growth.
“We have a split approach,” said Hartman. “We want to maintain the business that we have while increasing our share of components on core platforms.”
PCX Aerostructures hopes to increase its manufacturing part count on existing programs and the company is actively participating in the development of future rotorcraft platforms as well, said Hartman.
“When it comes to fatigue-tested components similar to what we make now, the way to secure the future of the business is to get in on the ground floor,” said Hartman.
“This type of mindset is how we’re shaping the company’s future. Our goal is to be a strategic player in the next generation of rotorcraft development.”
If you would like to see your company featured in Insight, contact Derek Kast at derek@mhmpub.com.
