Volusia companies
produce a wide variety of products for military
The
United States Naval Surface Warfare Center recently awarded a
$20-million contract to DeLeon Springs manufacturer Sparton
Electronics. The contract, which means more work for area workers,
is for the production of sonobuoys that are used by the United
States Navy for search and detection of submerged submarines.
“Sparton
is not alone in providing products and services in support of
America’s need for military hardware,” said Phil Ehlinger, Business
Assistance Manager for the county Department of Economic
Development. “In 2004, Volusia County companies received more than
$141 million in government contracts. We’re finding more and more
examples of Volusia-made products finding their way into America’s
war on terrorism.”
Earlier this year, DeLand-based Complete Parachute Systems, Inc. was
awarded a $20-million contract for the manufacture of parachutes for
the United States Marine Corps. The company also produces similar
products for other government military groups.
“We
began to track the progress that our area companies are having in
competing for federal contracts following the closing of the General
Dynamics plant in DeLand in 2004,” said Volusia County Economic
Development Director Rick Michael. “The closing of the facility
resulted in the loss of about 250 high-skilled, high-waged workers
and more than $70 million in manufacturing output that also impacted
other area companies and the local economy.”
While
two of the three General Dynamics operational divisions relocated to
North Carolina and Virginia, the county was able to salvage the
General Dynamics Specialty Vehicle Division when county economic
development staff found a buyer for the division shortly before the
facility closed. The move saved about 60 jobs when the NSI Group
from Michigan took over operational control of the division now
known as NSI Intellitec, LLC.
In 2005,
NSI responded to a proposal drafted by county economic development
staff and agreed to remain in the DeLand area as the anchor company
in DeLand Crossings, an industrial park being developed by the
county at I-4 and S.R. 44, east of DeLand.
“NSI will invest millions in new capital investments and will be
constructing a 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing
facility that will be home to more than 100 high-skilled area
workers,” said Michael. Work on the $6.1-million industrial park
began in January and is expected to be completed by July.
Other
area companies supporting America’s efforts include Hudson Tool &
Die, Ormond Beach, which produces canteens for the United States
Army, Environics USA, Port Orange, which designs and builds portable
chemical detection devices, and Advance Ordinance, Daytona Beach ,
which manufactures parts and assemblies for the M-16 assault rifle.
In the
Edgewater area, Boston Whaler formed a new "government division"
following the events of 911 to provide customized armed water patrol
craft for both government and military customers.
While
some products are designed to search and destroy, others are
designed to save lives. During the initial Iraq conflict a new
syringe produced by DeLand-based Tyco-Kendall/Healthcare was carried
into battle by troops in the event they encountered chemical warfare
agents.
The
destruction and absence of potable water throughout Iraq following
the initial months of the war lead to other local manufacturing
opportunities. In 2005, Miller-Leaman, Inc., Daytona Beach, designed
and manufactured water purification systems for use throughout the
country to produce fresh and safe drinking water for American and
coalition forces and the Iraqi people.”
“Some
products stick out more than others,” said Michael. “Whether it’s
high tech or just something simple, products produced in Volusia
County are making a difference. No local product is making a bigger
difference in saving the lives of American young people than the
work being done by Raydon Corporation in Daytona Beach.”
Raydon
has designed and manufactured one of the leading training programs
in tank and Humvee simulation for the U.S. Army, according to Michael,
whose daughter served in Iraq with the U.S. Army in 2003 and whose
son was an aviation officer on the carrier U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.
Raydon’s
production of military simulation designs is supported by a host of
area companies including Vivid Design Technologies, Inc., DeLand.
“We do a lot of machining for Raydon,” said Vivid Design’s president
Bill Stewart Jr. “ We make components for their trainers. We model
in our computers before machining a part to make sure everything
works just right.”
And
Florida Gourmet Inc., a food manufacturer at the DeLand airport,
also has military clients. The company provides a wide variety of
hot sauces and dressings and among the company’s customers is
Britain’s famous Royal Air Force. The RAF buys Florida Gourmet
sauces by the 55-gallon drum for export to Britain where the sauce
is repackaged into smaller packets and distributed as part of the
field rations sent to British military personnel serving in Iraq and
other duty stations throughout the world.
