30 May 2008

Mid-Continent Instruments Moves On Berlin

WICHITA, Kan. — Mid-Continent Instruments’ strategy to develop international business has proven effective.  With international exports accounting for 19% of overall sales in 2007, a 25% increase from 2006, Mid-Continent is continuing with the global efforts that earned them a 2008 International Business Excellence Award from the World Trade Council of Wichita. 

“We believe this growth trend will continue as we bring new technology to the market” stated Tom Genovese, Sales & Customer Service Manager. “We are working diligently to strengthen our partnerships in Europe and beyond. Mid-Continent’s reputation is well established yet we intend to double our efforts and distribution capabilities.”

 Mid-Continent was busy attending tradeshows in Europe during May. Both the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) regional meeting in Cologne, Germany and the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland aided efforts to create worldwide product awareness. The AEA’s membership of more than 1,300 companies spans 35 countries. EBACE had its eight consecutive year of growth with a total of 13,692 attendees. 

 Mid-Continent’s recent stop was the ILA Berlin Air Show, one of the world’s largest aerospace tradeshows. With more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries and over 250,000 visitors, the ILA Berlin Air Show provides prime access to European markets, particularly Central and Eastern Europe.

 During its pursuit for worldwide success, Mid-Continent Instruments has utilized local resources like the Kansas World Trade Center and the Kansas Department of Commerce.  State grants received from these organizations enabled Mid-Continent to expand tradeshow attendance overseas. This included translating marketing materials into multiple languages in order to better communicate with international customers. “These resources have helped us demonstrate that a ‘Wichita Kansas company’ can have a global vision,” says Genovese.

Mid-Continent Instruments manufactures aircraft instruments for the general aviation industry.  Services at the Wichita, Kansas facility also include developing and manufacturing new avionics products.  Mid-Continent Instruments West in Van Nuys, California provides new instrument sales and is the top-rated instrument overhaul shop on the west coast.  Together the locations employ more than 150 people and offer the largest general aviation instrument overhaul/exchange program in the world.  Specialties include gyro, altimeter, HSI and autopilot system overhauls.  Mid-Continent instruments are found in all new Cessna airplanes and in Raytheon’s Beech line of Bonanzas, Barons, King Airs and 1900 Airliners.  Instruments are sold to other manufacturers such as GARMIN International, Honeywell, Cirrus, Lancair, Piper Aircraft Inc., Diamond and Robinson Helicopter Co.