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 Under a projected $10 million investment, Kaman Aerostructures unveiled it's first Mexican plant in Chihuahua City this week, joining the city's growing aerospace cluster that already includes world-class firms as Cessna, Honeywell Aerospace, Hawker Beechcraft and Bell Helicopter.
Kaman's new plant will initially manufacture extrusions and sheet metal details to support the aerospace industry worldwide.
Once completed, components will be shipped either to Kaman Aerostructures' manufacturing operations in the U.S. for final assembly into structures or directly to end customers.
Hiring will be limited to 14 employees initially, but Kaman expects to eventually expand its local workforce to 500 workers.
According to Kaman officials, key in their decision to build a plant here were Chihuahua City's industrial infrastructure and Cenaltec, Chihuahua State's aerospace technical school providing fabrication and assembly initial skills for the aerospace companies operating in the State.
Company officials acknowledged the great site selection support received from American Industries, a Chihuahuan company offering industrial real estate solutions.
Attending the opening ceremony were Neal J. Keating, Chairman, President and CEO of Kaman Corporation; Gregory L. Steiner, President of Kaman Aerospace Group; Robert J. Kanaskie, President of Kaman Aerostructures; plant manager Francisco Meza; Alberto Chretin, Chihuahua State Economy Secretary; Chihuahua City Mayor Marco A. Quezada; and Luis Lara, CEO of American Industries.
 "We are very pleased to open our facility in Chihuahua and are honored to celebrate this occasion in the company of Secretary of the Economy Alberto Chretin and Mayor Marco Adan Quezada", said Neal Keating.
"This new plant is part of Kaman's ongoing strategy to grow its global footprint and heighten sourcing, manufacturing, engineering and business development capabilities around the world in support of customers".
"A number of factors were considered in the selection process for the location of this new Kaman facility. Chihuahua scored highly in all criteria and subsequent to the location selection decision, has met all our expectations during the initial start-up phase of the operations", said Robert Kanaskie.
"We welcome Kaman Aerospace Corporation to the large and growing Chihuahua Aerospace Cluster and look forward to a prosperous future together", said Economy Secretary Alberto Chretin.
"Chihuahua today is a base of operations for many aerospace companies due to its modern infrastructure, aerospace technical training and research centers, educated labor force, and government support for new aerospace business initiatives".
Other aerospace companies with operations in Chihuahua include Manoir Industries, Zodiac Air Cruisers, Labinal, Nordam and Tighitco Inc.
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Get over stereotypes! There is a couple of things you'd want know about the largest state of Mexico
Chihuahua is developing an aerospace cluster. Our universities are training aerospace engineers and technicians right now.
We are developing micro-electromechanical systems at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez. Many national and international companies with operations in the State are potential beneficiaries of our projects. 
The most important archaeological site of Northern Mexico is located in the State of Chihuahua, at Paquimé
In Juarez, just across from El Paso, Texas, there is a museum with original parts of the great supersonic passenger jet