−Removed: As used in this report, unless otherwise stated
−Removed: or the context requires otherwise, the “Company” and terms such as “we,” “us” “our,” and
−Removed: “AIRI” refer to Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
−Removed: We are a manufacturer of complex machined parts
−Removed: and assemblies for the Aerospace and Defense (“A&D”) market.
−Removed: Our products are used by Original Equipment Manufacturers
−Removed: (“OEM”) in the manufacture of fixed wing aircraft, helicopters jet turbine engines, and other complex sophisticated A&D
−Removed: We are a holding company with
−Removed: three legal subsidiaries, Air Industries Machining, (“AIM”) Nassau Tool Works (“NTW”) and Sterling Engineering
−Removed: Company (“SEC”).
+Added: used in this report, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, the “Company” and terms such as “we,”
+Added: “us” “our,” and “AIRI” refer to Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation, and its wholly-owned
+Added: subsidiaries.
+Added: are a manufacturer of complex machined parts and assemblies for the Aerospace and Defense (“A&D”) market.
+Added: are used by Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEM”) in the manufacture of fixed wing aircraft, helicopters jet turbine engines,
+Added: and other complex sophisticated A&D products.
+Added: We also manufacture parts for the ground power turbine industry and are in discussions
+Added: to manufacture products for submarines.
+Added: are a holding company with three legal subsidiaries, Air Industries Machining, (“AIM”) Nassau Tool Works (“NTW”)
+Added: and Sterling Engineering Company (“SEC”).
Our subsidiaries have been manufacturers of A&D product for decades;
−Removed: SEC began manufacturing
−Removed: aircraft components in 1941 – over 80-years ago – for use in World War II.
−Removed: NTW was formed in the early 1960’s and AIM
−Removed: has been in business since 1951.
−Removed: We intend to merge AIM and NTW into one corporation.
−Removed: Collectively, our subsidiaries
−Removed: have over 200 years of manufacturing experience in the A&D market.
−Removed: We operate our business using
−Removed: two main facilities located in Long Island, New York, and in Barkhamsted in Northwest Connecticut.
−Removed: We have over 150,000 square feet of
−Removed: manufacturing space, approximately 75,000 square feet in each location, and employ approximately 200 people.
−Removed: Historically, we operated our
−Removed: businesses and reported their results as two separate segments with AIM and NTW comprising our Complex Machining Segment (“CMS”)
−Removed: and SEC as the Turbine & Engine Component Segment (“TEC”).
−Removed: Our CMS segment specializes in flight critical components including
−Removed: flight controls and landing gear.
+Added: manufacturing aircraft components in 1941 – over 80-years ago – for use in World War II.
+Added: NTW was formed in the early 1960’s
+Added: and AIM has been in business since 1951.
+Added: Collectively, our subsidiaries have over 200 years of manufacturing experience in the A&D
+Added: operate our business using two main facilities.
+Added: One is located in Long Island, New York, and the other is in Barkhamsted, Connecticut.
+Added: We have over 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space, approximately 75,000 square feet in each location, and employ approximately
+Added: Historically,
+Added: we operated our businesses and reported their results as two separate segments, with AIM and NTW comprising our Complex Machining Segment
+Added: (“CMS”) and our SEC as the Turbine & Engine Component Segment (“TEC”).
+Added: Our CMS segment specializes in flight
+Added: critical components including flight controls and landing gear.
Our TEC segment focuses on manufacturing components for jet engines.
−Removed: Historically, each segment had
−Removed: different customers and utilized different production facilities.
−Removed: In recent years we integrated
−Removed: and consolidated the business of AIM and NTW into one facility on Long Island and the operations of our CMS and TEC segments have become
−Removed: increasingly integrated.
−Removed: We also made significant capital expenditures and all of our operations now share the same manufacturing facilities
−Removed: and use most, if not all, of the same sales and marketing functions.
+Added: Historically, each segment had different customers and utilized different production facilities.
+Added: recent years the operations of our CMS and TEC segments have become increasingly integrated.
+Added: In addition, we have made significant capital
+Added: expenditures to modernize our manufacturing equipment and all of our operations now share the same manufacturing facilities and use most,
+Added: if not all, of the same sales and marketing functions.
We made these changes to take advantage of the long-term growth opportunities
we see in the A&D market.
−Removed: In early fiscal 2022, we further changed our management approach and will now make decisions about resources
−Removed: to be allocated and assessing performance based on one integrated business rather than two reporting segments.
−Removed: As such, effective with
−Removed: our first quarter ending March 31, 2022, we will present our operations as one reportable operating segment.
−Removed: The A&D business is comprised of a small number
−Removed: of OEM’s relying on several “tiers” or layers of many more numerous smaller manufacturers supplying product.
−Removed: Each successive
−Removed: tier supplying increasing larger, more complex product to higher tier and OEM companies.
−Removed: Air Industries is generally either a tier one
−Removed: manufacturer supplying product directly to an OEM, or a tier two manufacturer supplying product to a tier one supplier which delivers
−Removed: Our business has evolved over the years, our products
−Removed: becoming increasing complex.
−Removed: Where once we manufactured smaller individual components for others to assemble into complex assemblies we
−Removed: now manufacture those complex assemblies ourselves.
−Removed: For example, in the past we, along with other suppliers, manufactured individual components
−Removed: to be assembled into a landing gear by an OEM customer.
−Removed: Today we manufacture the entire landing gear, assembling over 200 individual parts,
−Removed: most manufactured internally, others sub-contracted or purchased into a complete landing gear delivered directly to an OEM, and ready
−Removed: to be installed on an aircraft.
−Removed: We are predominately a supplier of military aviation
+Added: In early fiscal 2022, we further changed our management approach and now make decisions regarding the allocation
+Added: of resources and assess operating performance based on one integrated business rather than two reporting segments.
+Added: As such, effective
+Added: with our first quarter ended March 31, 2022, we began to present our operations as one reportable operating segment.
+Added: A&D business is comprised of a small number of OEM’s relying on several “tiers” or layers of many more numerous
+Added: smaller manufacturers supplying product.
+Added: Each successive tier supplies increasingly larger, more complex product to the next higher tier
+Added: and OEM companies.
+Added: Air Industries is generally either a tier one manufacturer supplying product directly to an OEM, or a tier two manufacturer
+Added: supplying product to a tier one supplier which delivers to an OEM.
+Added: business has evolved over the years, our products becoming increasing complex.
+Added: Where once we manufactured smaller individual components
+Added: for others to assemble into complex assemblies, we now manufacture those complex assemblies ourselves.
+Added: For example, in the past we, along
+Added: with other suppliers, manufactured individual components to be assembled into a landing gear by an OEM customer.
+Added: Today we manufacture
+Added: the entire landing gear, assembling over 200 individual parts, most manufactured internally, others sub-contracted or purchased into
+Added: a complete landing gear delivered directly to an OEM, ready to be installed on an aircraft.
+Added: are predominately a supplier of military aviation product.
Defense products were 82.6% and 87.7% of our business in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
−Removed: Our OEM customers in the defense sector
−Removed: ● Raytheon Technologies Corporation (f/y/a United Technologies Corporation).
−Removed: We supply products for several units of Raytheon
−Removed: Technologies Corporation, including:
−Removed: o Goodrich Landing Systems – we manufacture landing gear components for the Northrop Grumman E2-D Hawkeye, airborne warning and
−Removed: control aircraft deployed with the US Navy and several foreign governments, the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike multi-role fighter
−Removed: aircraft used by all branches of the US military and multiple foreign militaries and for the F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft.
−Removed: Pratt & Whitney – we manufacture jet turbine engine
−Removed: components for several military and commercial jet engines.
+Added: Our OEM customers in the defense sector include:
+Added: Raytheon Technologies
+Added: Corporation (f/k/a United Technologies Corporation).
+Added: We supply products for several units of Raytheon Technologies Corporation,
+Added: Goodrich Landing Systems
+Added: – we manufacture landing gear components for the Northrop Grumman E2-D Hawkeye, airborne warning and control aircraft deployed
+Added: with the US Navy and several foreign governments, the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike multi-role fighter aircraft used by
+Added: all branches of the US military and multiple foreign militaries and for the F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft.
+Added: & Whitney – we manufacture jet turbine engine components for several military and commercial jet engines.
Lockheed Martin Corporation.
−Removed: We supply products for the Sikorsky Aircraft unit of Lockheed primarily for the UH-60 BlackHawk
−Removed: multi-purpose helicopter used by the US and many foreign militaries.
+Added: We supply products for the Sikorsky Aircraft unit of Lockheed primarily for the UH-60 BlackHawk multi-purpose helicopter used
+Added: by the US and many foreign militaries.
General Electric Corporation .
−Removed: We supply products used in General Electric jet turbine aircraft engines used by several military
−Removed: aircraft platforms.
+Added: We supply products used in General Electric jet turbine aircraft engines used by several military aircraft platforms.
US Department of Defense .
2 unchanged sentences
We supply product used on the E2-D Hawkeye, airborne warning and control aircraft.
−Removed: The balance of our business, comprising 12.3% and
−Removed: 13.8% of our business in 2021 and 2020 respectively, is in commercial aviation and to a minor degree in ground power electricity generation.
+Added: balance of our business, comprising 17.4% and 12.3% of our business in 2022 and 2021 respectively, is in commercial aviation and to a
+Added: minor degree in ground power electricity generation.
Our OEM customers in the commercial sector include:
−Removed: ● Rohr Inc., (a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies) We manufacture a component used in several versions of the
−Removed: Pratt & Whitney new geared turbine fan commercial jet turbine engine.
+Added: Rohr Inc., (a wholly
+Added: owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies) We manufacture a component used in several versions of the Pratt & Whitney new geared
+Added: turbine fan commercial jet turbine engine.
General Electric Corporation.
−Removed: We supply products used in General Electric jet turbine aircraft engines used by several commercial
−Removed: aircraft platforms and ground power electricity generation.
−Removed: Our business is concentrated on five aircraft platforms.
−Removed: The following five platforms comprised 76.6% and 71.0% of our business in 2021 and 2020 respectively.
+Added: We supply products used in General Electric jet turbine aircraft engines used by several commercial aircraft platforms and ground
+Added: power electricity generation.
+Added: business is concentrated on five aircraft platforms which comprised 76.9% and 76.6% of our business in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
UH-60 BlackHawk .
−Removed: We have manufactured many components and assemblies for the BlackHawk and its many variants for more than
−Removed: BlackHawk helicopters entered service in 1979 and remain in production today.
−Removed: It is the primary helicopter used by the US Army
−Removed: and other branches of the US military.
+Added: We have manufactured many components and assemblies for the BlackHawk and its many variants for more than 20 years.
+Added: BlackHawk helicopters
+Added: entered service in 1979 and remain in production today.
+Added: It is the primary helicopter used by the US Army and other branches of the
The BlackHawk is also used by many foreign countries and militaries.
−Removed: Over 4,000 aircraft have been
−Removed: produced with many, perhaps as many as 3,000, remaining in use today and generating significant after-market demand.
+Added: Over 4,000 aircraft have been produced with many,
+Added: perhaps as many as 3,000, remaining in use today and generating significant after-market demand.
F-35 Lightning II.
−Removed: The F-35 Lightning also known as the Joint Strike Fighter is a new aircraft that will in coming years replace
−Removed: the US Air Force F-15 and the US Navy and Marine Corps F-18 fighters.
−Removed: Eight other nations have participated in the development of the
−Removed: aircraft and will be customers, as will other international militaries.
+Added: The F-35 Lightning also known as the Joint Strike Fighter is a new aircraft that will in coming years replace the US Air Force F-15
+Added: and the US Navy and Marine Corps F-18 fighters.
+Added: Eight other nations have participated in the development of the aircraft and will
+Added: be users of the aircraft, as will other international militaries.
There are three variants of the aircraft, conventional take-off
and landing F-35A, short take-off and vertical landing F-35B and a carrier based variant F-35C.
−Removed: The aircraft entered service with the
−Removed: US Marine Corps in 2015 and approximately 2,300 are expected to be produced.
−Removed: ● F-18 Hornet.
−Removed: The F-18 Hornet currently is the primary fighter aircraft for the US Navy operating primarily from aircraft carriers.
−Removed: The F-18 is also in service internationally, notably Finland and Australia.
−Removed: We manufacture complete landing gear and landing gear components
−Removed: for the many variants of the aircraft.
−Removed: ● Northrop Grumman E2-D Advanced Hawkeye.
−Removed: The ED-D Hawkeye is a US Navy carrier-based aircraft used to provide airborne warning
−Removed: and control for carrier based air operations.
−Removed: The aircraft’s role is to maintain control of the airspace surrounding an aircraft
−Removed: carrier for protection of the vessel and aircraft in operation.
+Added: The aircraft entered service with
+Added: the US Marine Corps in 2015 and approximately 2,300 are expected to be produced.
+Added: F-18 Hornet currently is the primary fighter aircraft for the US Navy operating primarily from aircraft carriers.
+Added: The F-18 is also
+Added: in service internationally, notably Finland and Australia.
+Added: We manufacture complete landing gear and landing gear components for the
+Added: many variants of the aircraft.
+Added: Northrop Grumman E2-D
+Added: Advanced Hawkeye.
+Added: The ED-D Hawkeye is a US Navy carrier-based aircraft used to provide airborne warning and control for carrier-based
+Added: air operations.
+Added: The aircraft’s role is to maintain control of the airspace surrounding an aircraft carrier for protection of
+Added: the vessel and aircraft in operation.
The “D” version, the most current of the E2 remains in production.
−Removed: The aircraft is also used by seven foreign militaries notably Japan.
−Removed: ● Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo-Fan.
−Removed: The P&W Geared Turbo-Fan (“GTF”) is a next
−Removed: generation jet turbine engine used in commercial aviation.
−Removed: The GTF engine is widely acknowledged to deliver improved fuel economy and
−Removed: a lower noise footprint than existing jet engines.
+Added: is also used by seven foreign militaries notably Japan.
+Added: Pratt & Whitney
+Added: Geared Turbo-Fan.
+Added: The P&W Geared Turbo-Fan (“GTF”) is a next generation jet turbine engine used in commercial
+Added: The GTF engine is widely acknowledged to deliver improved fuel economy and a lower noise footprint than existing jet engines.
There are several versions of the GTF.
−Removed: Air Industries produces a component for the
−Removed: smaller versions of the engine used on the popular A-220 and Embraer narrow body aircraft.
−Removed: The A&D industry has become very consolidated,
−Removed: now dominated by just a few very large Prime contractors and OEM’s.
−Removed: These include Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, Lockheed Martin,
−Removed: Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies.
−Removed: Many if not most of the large Prime contractors and OEM’s are our direct Tier One customers,
−Removed: and we also supply product as a Tier two supplier to many of their Tier one suppliers.
−Removed: We also sell directly to the US Department of Defense
−Removed: Our products are incorporated into many aircraft
−Removed: platforms, the majority of which remain in production today.
−Removed: The demand for after-market products for the maintenance, repair and overhaul
−Removed: (“MRO”) of aircraft can continue for many years, even decades, after the production line for new aircraft is shut-down.
−Removed: We target products that are flight critical, whose
−Removed: flawless operation is essential to the safe operation of the aircraft.
−Removed: To qualify to produce these products a manufacturer needs to maintain
−Removed: various accreditations.
−Removed: Obtaining accreditation while not impossible is difficult, time consuming and thus a barrier to entry for competitors.
−Removed: Further, flight critical components are frequently replaced on aircraft on a flight time, or flight cycle basis.
−Removed: Thus, demand for these
−Removed: products arises from both production of new aircraft, and MRO demand based on the flight hours of existing fleets of aircraft.
−Removed: For many of our products we are the sole or single
−Removed: source of product for our customers.
−Removed: Sole source product means that we are the only manufacturer of the product.
−Removed: Single source means that
−Removed: while other manufacturers could supply the product we are the only producer currently in the market.
−Removed: Single or sole sourcing is more likely
−Removed: to occur with legacy aircraft.
−Removed: OEM’s generally prefer to have multiple sources of product to support a production line of new aircraft
−Removed: and avoid single point of failure issues.
−Removed: Our market is predominately military.
−Removed: As such demand
−Removed: for our products is closely aligned with the budget of the DOD.
−Removed: We monitor two components of the DOD budget;
−Removed: procurement which affects
−Removed: demand resulting from new production and operations & maintenance which affects demand resulting from the maintaining existing aircraft.
−Removed: For Fiscal Year 2022, procurement and operations and maintenance accounted for more than 50% of the entire defense budget.
−Removed: Sales and Marketing
−Removed: We are generally recognized as a Tier 1 or Tier
−Removed: 2 supplier in the A&D industry.
−Removed: We are also recognized as having extensive experience and accreditation to produce and assemble complex
−Removed: flight safety products.
−Removed: Most of our contracts with our customers are in
−Removed: the form of a Long-Term Agreement (“LTA”).
−Removed: These LTA’s specify the number and price of products that the customer may
−Removed: order from us for a period of time.
−Removed: The quantity and price in any year may vary from other years within the LTA.
−Removed: Once awarded, the customer
−Removed: places orders against the LTA.
+Added: Air Industries produces a component for the smaller versions of the engine used on the popular
+Added: A-220 and Embraer narrow body aircraft.
+Added: A&D industry has become very consolidated, now dominated by just a few very large prime contractors and OEM’s.
+Added: These include
+Added: Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies.
+Added: Many if not most of the large prime contractors
+Added: and OEM’s are our direct Tier One customers, and we also supply product as a Tier two supplier to many of their Tier one suppliers.
+Added: We also sell directly to the US Department of Defense (“DOD”).
+Added: products are incorporated into many aircraft platforms, the majority of which remain in production today.
+Added: The demand for after-market
+Added: products for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) of aircraft can continue for many years, even decades, after the
+Added: production line for new aircraft is shut-down.
+Added: target products that are flight critical, whose flawless operation is essential to the safe operation of the aircraft.
+Added: To qualify to
+Added: produce these products a manufacturer needs to maintain various accreditations.
+Added: Obtaining accreditation while not impossible is difficult,
+Added: time consuming and thus a barrier to entry for competitors.
+Added: Further, flight critical components are frequently replaced on aircraft on
+Added: a flight time, or flight cycle basis.
+Added: Thus, demand for these products arises from both production of new aircraft, and MRO demand based
+Added: on the flight hours of existing fleets of aircraft.
+Added: many of our products we are the sole or single source of product for our customers.
+Added: Sole source product means that we are the only manufacturer
+Added: of the product.
+Added: Single source means that while other manufacturers could supply the product, we are the only producer currently in the
+Added: Single or sole sourcing is more likely to occur with legacy aircraft.
+Added: OEM’s generally prefer to have multiple sources of
+Added: product to support a production line of new aircraft and avoid single point of failure issues, particularly in light of the supply chain
+Added: disruptions caused by the outbreak of Covid-19.
+Added: market is predominately military.
+Added: As such demand for our products is closely aligned with the budget of the DOD.
+Added: We monitor two components
+Added: of the DOD budget;
+Added: procurement which affects demand resulting from new production and operations & maintenance which affects demand
+Added: resulting from the maintaining of existing aircraft.
+Added: For Fiscal Year 2022, procurement and operations and maintenance accounted for more
+Added: than 50% of the entire defense budget.
+Added: and Marketing
+Added: are generally recognized as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier in the A&D industry.
+Added: We are also recognized as having extensive experience
+Added: and accreditation to produce and assemble complex flight safety products.
+Added: of our contracts with our customers are in the form of a Long-Term Agreement (“LTA”).
+Added: These LTA’s specify the number
+Added: and price of products that the customer may order from us for a period of time.
+Added: The quantity and price in any year may vary from other
+Added: years within the LTA.
+Added: Once awarded, the customer places orders against the LTA.
These orders are called releases.
−Removed: Once released the order is a firm order.
−Removed: While an order may be cancelled
−Removed: the customer is subject to termination liability and must pay us for the cost of material, labor and other costs incurred up to the date
−Removed: of termination.
−Removed: Our sales cycle is highly variable, ranging from
−Removed: a few weeks to several years.
−Removed: And contracts for product can be very short, just a few months to as long as ten-years.
−Removed: We obtain new or follow-on LTA’s through
−Removed: competitive bidding.
−Removed: We respond to a customer’s Request for Quotation (“RFQ”) with proposed prices based on quantities,
−Removed: sometimes varying quantities per year, for shipments over a number of years.
−Removed: There may be several rounds of submissions from us and from
−Removed: competitive suppliers, and a period of negotiation before an LTA is awarded.
−Removed: In addition to products sold pursuant to LTA’s there
−Removed: are also “spot buys” of product by customers.
−Removed: LTA’s, particularly for defense products,
−Removed: may be extended or new orders placed without competitive bidding.
−Removed: In this instance and in some others our price for the product must be
−Removed: supported by an analysis or audit and approval of our costs by the customer or by the Government.
−Removed: sales and marketing efforts and those of our competitors have been negatively affected by Covid travel restrictions limiting our ability
−Removed: to visit customers and cancelled trade events.
−Removed: Many of our customers’ employees continue to work remotely further complicating
+Added: Once released the order
+Added: is a firm order.
+Added: While a firm order may be cancelled the customer is subject to termination liability and must pay us for the cost of
+Added: material, labor and other costs incurred up to the date of termination.
+Added: sales cycle is highly variable, ranging from a few weeks to several years depending upon the complexity of the product and the number
+Added: of steps necessary to complete manufacturing.
+Added: Contracts for product can be very short, just a few months to as long as ten-years.
+Added: obtain new or follow-on LTA’s through competitive bidding.
+Added: We respond to a customer’s Request for Quotation (“RFQ”)
+Added: with proposed prices based on quantities, sometimes varying quantities per year, for shipments over a number of years.
+Added: There may be several
+Added: rounds of submissions from us and from competitive suppliers, and a period of negotiation before an LTA is awarded.
+Added: In addition to products
+Added: sold pursuant to LTA’s there are also “spot buys” of product by customers.
+Added: particularly for defense products, may be extended or new orders placed without competitive bidding.
+Added: In this instance and in some others
+Added: our price for the product must be supported by an analysis or audit and approval of our costs by the customer or by the Government.
+Added: In 2021 and to a lesser extent
+Added: in the first half of 2022 our sales and marketing efforts were negatively affected by Covid travel restrictions limiting our ability
+Added: to visit customers and the reluctance of the employees of some of our customers to return to the office and attend trade shows, complicating
our ability to contact them.
−Removed: Despite these challenges we have been able to maintain a “book-to-bill” ratio (new orders booked
−Removed: divided by sales) of 0.9 to 1.00 and 1.07 to 1.00 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 respectively.
−Removed: Our approach to sales and
−Removed: marketing can be best understood through the concept of customer alignment.
−Removed: The aerospace industry is dominated by a small number of large
−Removed: prime contractors and OEM’s.
−Removed: These customers rely heavily upon subcontractors to supply quality parts meeting specifications on
−Removed: a timely and cost effective basis.
−Removed: These customers and other customers we supply routinely rate their suppliers based on a variety of
−Removed: performance factors.
−Removed: One of our principal goals is to be highly rated and thus deemed reliable by all of our customers and throughout
−Removed: the industry.
−Removed: The large prime contractors
−Removed: are increasingly seeking subcontractors who can supply and are qualified to integrate the fabrication of larger, more complex and more
−Removed: complete subassemblies.
−Removed: We seek to position ourselves within the supply chain of these contractors and manufacturers to be selected for
−Removed: subcontracted projects.
−Removed: Successful positioning requires that we qualify to be a preferred supplier by achieving and maintaining independent
−Removed: third party quality approval certifications, specific customer quality system approvals and top supplier ratings through strong performance
−Removed: on existing contracts.
−Removed: During our sales and marketing
−Removed: efforts we let customers know that we have employees with the talent and experience to manage the manufacture of sections of aircraft
−Removed: structures to be delivered to the final assembly phase of the aircraft manufacturing cycle, and customers have now engaged us for these
−Removed: Initial contracts are usually
−Removed: obtained through competitive bidding against other qualified subcontractors, while follow-on contracts are usually retained by successfully
−Removed: performing initial contracts.
−Removed: Our long term business generally benefits from barriers to entry resulting from investments, certifications,
−Removed: familiarization with the needs and systems of customers, and manufacturing techniques developed during the initial manufacturing phase.
−Removed: We endeavor to develop each of our relationships to one of a “partnership” where we participate in the resolution of pre-production
−Removed: design and build issues, and initial contracts are obtained as single source awards and follow-on pricing is determined through negotiations.
−Removed: In response to the impediments to traditional means of marketing our products and services encountered during 2020 and 2021 as a result
−Removed: of the cancellation of industry-wide events and the difficulties in scheduling meetings with our customers, we have adapted our business
−Removed: development efforts to increase our use of social media and online presentations, and will continue to look for new ways to interact with
−Removed: our customers.
−Removed: The backlog we report consists solely of firm orders
−Removed: received from customers.
−Removed: We do not estimate possible or probable future orders pursuant to LTA’s or anticipated contract renewals.
−Removed: Our backlog exists due the long lead times necessary to produce many of our products.
−Removed: Our production cycle from ordering raw material
−Removed: to delivering finished product can vary from several weeks to over twelve months.
−Removed: Customers must place orders in light of these lead-times
−Removed: creating a back-log of future deliveries.
−Removed: The production cycle for jet engine products is much shorter and accordingly the backlog for
−Removed: jet engine products is much lower.
−Removed: Our total 18-Month firm backlog was $75.0 and $81.1 Million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
−Removed: Our backlog today is the result of purchase orders
−Removed: for the Sikorsky Black Hawk, the F-25 Joint Strike Fighter, the Northrop Grumman E2-D, the F-18 fighter aircraft and the Pratt & Whitney
−Removed: Geared Turbo-Fan jet engine.
+Added: As a result of these challenges our “book-to-bill” ratio (new orders booked divided by sales)
+Added: was 0.75 to 1.00 and 0.9 to 1.00 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively, below historic levels.
+Added: approach to sales and marketing can be best understood through the concept of customer alignment.
+Added: The aerospace industry is dominated
+Added: by a small number of large prime contractors and OEM’s.
+Added: These customers rely heavily upon subcontractors to supply quality parts
+Added: meeting specifications on a timely and cost effective basis.
+Added: These customers and other customers we supply routinely rate their suppliers
+Added: based on a variety of performance factors.
+Added: One of our principal goals is to be highly rated and thus deemed reliable by all of our customers
+Added: and throughout the industry.
+Added: large prime contractors are increasingly seeking subcontractors who can supply and are qualified to integrate the fabrication of larger,
+Added: more complex and more complete subassemblies.
+Added: We seek to position ourselves within the supply chain of these contractors and manufacturers
+Added: to be selected for subcontracted projects.
+Added: Successful positioning requires that we qualify to be a preferred supplier by achieving and
+Added: maintaining independent third party quality approval certifications, specific customer quality system approvals and top supplier ratings
+Added: through strong performance on existing contracts.
+Added: our sales and marketing efforts we let customers know that we have employees with the talent and experience to manage the manufacture
+Added: of sections of aircraft structures to be delivered to the final assembly phase of the aircraft manufacturing cycle, and customers have
+Added: now engaged us for these services.
+Added: contracts are usually obtained through competitive bidding against other qualified subcontractors, while follow-on contracts are usually
+Added: retained by successfully performing initial contracts.
+Added: Our long term business generally benefits from barriers to entry resulting from
+Added: investments, certifications, familiarization with the needs and systems of customers, and manufacturing techniques developed during the
+Added: initial manufacturing phase.
+Added: We endeavor to develop each of our relationships to one of a “partnership” where we participate
+Added: in the resolution of pre-production design and build issues, and initial contracts are obtained as single source awards and follow-on
+Added: pricing is determined through negotiations.
+Added: In response to the impediments to traditional means of marketing our products and services
+Added: encountered during 2020 and 2021 as a result of the cancellation of industry-wide events and the difficulties in scheduling meetings
+Added: with our customers, we have adapted our business development efforts to increase our use of social media and online presentations, and
+Added: will continue to look for new ways to interact with our customers.
+Added: backlog we report consists solely of firm orders received from customers.
+Added: We do not estimate possible or probable future orders pursuant
+Added: to LTA’s or anticipated contract renewals.
+Added: Our backlog exists due to the long lead times necessary to produce many of our products.
+Added: Our production cycle from ordering raw material to delivering finished product can vary from several weeks to more than one year.
+Added: must place orders in light of these lead-times creating a back-log of future deliveries.
+Added: The production cycle for jet engine products
+Added: is much shorter and accordingly the backlog for jet engine products is much lower.
+Added: Our total 18-Month firm backlog was $60.1 and $75.0
+Added: Million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
+Added: backlog today is the result of purchase orders for the Sikorsky Black Hawk, the F-25 Joint Strike Fighter, the Northrop Grumman E2-D,
+Added: the F-18 fighter aircraft and the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo-Fan jet engine.
Winning a new contract is highly competitive.
−Removed: manufacture to customer design specifications.
−Removed: We compete against companies that have similar manufacturing capabilities and often greater
−Removed: financial, physical and technical resources in the domestic and to a lesser degree in the global marketplace.
+Added: We manufacture to customer
+Added: design specifications.
+Added: We compete against companies that have similar, or better manufacturing capabilities and often greater financial,
+Added: physical and technical resources in the domestic and, to a lesser degree, in the global marketplace.
Our ability to win new contracts
3 unchanged sentences
To accomplish this, we have made significant investments in new machinery and equipment
−Removed: totaling over $5,000,000;
+Added: totaling approximately $3,725,000;
$1,364,000 and $2,361,000 in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
−Removed: This new equipment increases the productive capacity
−Removed: of our employees, provides increased efficiency, and closer tolerances, and a larger working “envelope” increasing the size
−Removed: of product we can manufacture.
−Removed: Additionally, we anticipate spending an additional $1,750,000 to $2,500,000 in 2022 to continue to expand
−Removed: our productive capacity.
−Removed: Our marketing strategy involves developing long-term
−Removed: working relationships with customers.
−Removed: These relationships enable us to develop barriers to entry to competitors by establishing and maintaining
−Removed: advanced quality approvals, certifications and tooling investments that are difficult and expensive to duplicate.
−Removed: Among our competitors
+Added: This new equipment improves the productive
+Added: capacity of our employees, increases efficiency and speed, while maintaining closer tolerances, and increasing the size of product we
+Added: can manufacture with a larger working “envelope”.
+Added: We anticipate spending an additional $1,750,000 to $2,500,000 in 2023 to
+Added: continue to expand our productive capacity.
+Added: marketing strategy involves developing long-term working relationships with customers.
+Added: These relationships enable us to develop barriers
+Added: to entry to competitors by establishing and maintaining advanced quality approvals, certifications and tooling investments that are difficult
+Added: and expensive to duplicate.
+Added: our competitors are:
Monitor Aerospace, a division of Stellex Aerospace;
Hydromil, a division of Triumph Aerospace Group;
−Removed: Heroux Aerospace and Ellanef
−Removed: Manufacturing, a division of Magellan Corporation.
−Removed: Raw Materials and Replacement Parts
−Removed: The manufacturing process
−Removed: for certain products, particularly those for which we serve as product integrator, requires significant purchases of raw materials, hardware
−Removed: and subcontracted details.
−Removed: As a result, much of our success in profitably meeting customer demand for these products requires efficient
−Removed: and effective subcontract management.
−Removed: Price and availability of many raw materials utilized in the aerospace industry are subject to volatile
−Removed: global markets and political conditions.
−Removed: Most suppliers of raw materials are unwilling to commit to long-term contracts at fixed prices.
−Removed: This is a substantial risk as our strategy often involves long term fixed price commitments to our customers.
−Removed: As of March 15, 2022, we
−Removed: employed 197 people.
+Added: Heroux Aerospace
+Added: and Ellanef Manufacturing, a division of Magellan Corporation.
+Added: Materials and Replacement Parts
+Added: manufacturing process for certain products, particularly those for which we serve as product integrator, requires significant purchases
+Added: of raw materials, hardware and subcontracted details.
+Added: As a result, much of our success in profitably meeting customer demand for these
+Added: products requires efficient and effective subcontract management.
+Added: Price and availability of many raw materials utilized in the aerospace
+Added: industry are subject to volatile global markets and political conditions.
+Added: Most suppliers of raw materials are unwilling to commit to
+Added: long-term contracts at fixed prices.
+Added: This is a substantial risk as our strategy often involves long term fixed price commitments to our
+Added: As of May 1, 2023, we employed
Of these, 76 were in administration, 9 were in sales and procurement, and 100 were in manufacturing.
−Removed: AIM is a party to a collective
−Removed: bargaining agreement (the “Agreement”) with the United Service Workers, IUJAT, Local 355 (the “Union”) with which
−Removed: we believe we maintain good relations.
−Removed: The Agreement was renewed as of December 31, 2021 and expires on December 31, 2024 and covers the
−Removed: majority of AIM’s personnel, approximately 131 individuals, which equates to approximately 66% of all employees.
−Removed: AIM is required to make a
−Removed: monthly contribution to each of the Union’s United Welfare Fund and the United Services Worker’s Security Fund.
−Removed: only pension benefit required by the Agreement and the Company is not obligated for any future defined benefit to retirees.
−Removed: The Agreement
−Removed: contains a “no-strike” clause, whereby, during the term of the Agreement, the Union will not strike and AIM will not lockout
−Removed: its employees.
−Removed: All of our employees are covered under a co-employment
−Removed: agreement with Insperity Services, LLC, a professional employer organization that provides out-sourced human resource and payroll services.
−Removed: Environmental Regulation;
+Added: is a party to a collective bargaining agreement (the “Agreement”) with the United Service Workers, IUJAT, Local 355 (the
+Added: “Union”) with which we believe we maintain good relations.
+Added: The Agreement was renewed as of December 31, 2021 and expires
+Added: on December 31, 2024 and covers the majority of AIM’s personnel, approximately 130 individuals, which equates to approximately
+Added: 70% of all of our employees.
+Added: is required to make a monthly contribution to each of the Union’s United Welfare Fund and the United Services Worker’s Security
+Added: This is the only pension benefit required by the Agreement and the Company is not obligated for any future defined benefit to retirees.
+Added: The Agreement contains a “no-strike” clause, whereby, during the term of the Agreement, the Union will not strike and AIM
+Added: will not lockout its employees.
+Added: of our employees are covered under a co-employment agreement with Insperity Services, LLC, a professional employer organization that
+Added: provides out-sourced human resource and payroll services.
+Added: Environmental
Employee Safety
−Removed: We are subject to regulations
−Removed: administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, various state agencies
−Removed: and county and local authorities acting in cooperation with federal and state authorities.
−Removed: Among other things, these regulatory bodies
−Removed: impose restrictions that require us to control air, soil and water pollution, to protect against occupational exposure to chemicals, including
−Removed: health and safety risks, and to require notification or reporting of the storage, use and release of certain hazardous chemicals and substances.
−Removed: The extensive regulatory framework imposes compliance burdens and financial and operating risks on us.
−Removed: Governmental authorities have the
−Removed: power to enforce compliance with these regulations and to obtain injunctions or impose civil and criminal fines in the case of violations.
−Removed: The Comprehensive Environmental
−Removed: Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) imposes strict, joint and several liabilities on the present and
−Removed: former owners and operators of facilities that release hazardous substances into the environment.
−Removed: The Resource Conservation and Recovery
−Removed: Act of 1976 (“RCRA”) regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
−Removed: and Connecticut, the states where our production facilities are located, also have stringent laws and regulations governing the handling,
−Removed: storage and disposal of hazardous substances, counterparts of CERCLA and RCRA.
−Removed: In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which
−Removed: requires employers to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized and preventable hazards that are likely to cause serious
−Removed: physical harm to employees, obligates employers to provide notice to employees regarding the presence of hazardous chemicals and to train
−Removed: employees in the use of such substances.
−Removed: Federal Aviation Administration
−Removed: We are subject to regulation
−Removed: by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) under the provisions of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended.
−Removed: prescribes standards and licensing requirements for aircraft and aircraft components.
−Removed: We are subject to inspections by the FAA and may
−Removed: be subjected to fines and other penalties (including orders to cease production) for noncompliance with FAA regulations.
−Removed: Our failure to
−Removed: comply with applicable regulations could result in the termination of or our disqualification from some of our contracts, which could
−Removed: have a material adverse effect on our operations.
+Added: are subject to regulations administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
+Added: various state agencies and county and local authorities acting in cooperation with federal and state authorities.
+Added: Among other things,
+Added: these regulatory bodies impose restrictions that require us to control air, soil and water pollution, to protect against occupational
+Added: exposure to chemicals, including health and safety risks, and to require notification or reporting of the storage, use and release of
+Added: certain hazardous chemicals and substances.
+Added: The extensive regulatory framework imposes compliance burdens and financial and operating
+Added: Governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and to obtain injunctions or impose
+Added: civil and criminal fines in the case of violations.
+Added: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) imposes strict, joint and several
+Added: liabilities on the present and former owners and operators of facilities that release hazardous substances into the environment.
+Added: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”) regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and
+Added: disposal of hazardous waste.
+Added: New York and Connecticut, the states where our production facilities are located, also have stringent laws
+Added: and regulations governing the handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, counterparts of CERCLA and RCRA.
+Added: In addition, the
+Added: Occupational Safety and Health Act, which requires employers to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized and preventable
+Added: hazards that are likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, obligates employers to provide notice to employees regarding the
+Added: presence of hazardous chemicals and to train employees in the use of such substances.
+Added: Aviation Administration
+Added: are subject to regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) under the provisions of the Federal Aviation Act
+Added: of 1958, as amended.
+Added: The FAA prescribes standards and licensing requirements for aircraft and aircraft components.
+Added: We are subject to
+Added: inspections by the FAA and may be subjected to fines and other penalties (including orders to cease production) for noncompliance with
+Added: FAA regulations.
+Added: Our failure to comply with applicable regulations could result in the termination of or our disqualification from some
+Added: of our contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We have never been subject to such fines or disqualifications.
−Removed: Government Contract Compliance
−Removed: Our government contracts and
−Removed: those of many of our customers are subject to the procurement rules and regulations of the United States government, including the Federal
−Removed: Acquisition Regulations.
+Added: Contract Compliance
+Added: government contracts and those of many of our customers are subject to the procurement rules and regulations of the United States government,
+Added: including the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
Many of the contract terms are dictated by these rules and regulations.
−Removed: During and after the fulfillment of a
−Removed: government contract, we may be audited in respect of the direct and allocated indirect costs attributed to the project.
−Removed: These audits may
−Removed: result in adjustments to our contract costs.
+Added: During and after
+Added: the fulfillment of a government contract, we may be audited in respect of the direct and allocated indirect costs attributed to the project.
+Added: These audits may result in adjustments to our contract costs.
Additionally, we may be subject to U.S.
−Removed: government inquiries and investigations because of
−Removed: our participation in government procurement.
−Removed: Any inquiry or investigation can result in fines or limitations on our ability to continue
−Removed: to bid for government contracts and fulfill existing contracts.
−Removed: We believe that we are in
−Removed: compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations governing our operations and have obtained all material licenses and
−Removed: permits required for the operation of our business.
+Added: government inquiries and investigations
+Added: because of our participation in government procurement.
+Added: Any inquiry or investigation can result in fines or limitations on our ability
+Added: to continue to bid for government contracts and fulfill existing contracts.
+Added: believe that we are in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations governing our operations and have obtained all
+Added: material licenses and permits required for the operation of our business.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.