Technological innovation leads to job creation

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One of my very favorite parts of being Speaker of the Ohio House is the increased opportunity to witness and be a part of incredible advances in technology, especially when they aim to increase jobs and improve our economy. This week, I joined my friend Senator Bob Peterson to view a demonstration of Supersonic Particle Deposition (SPD) at Wilmington Air Park.

What exactly is Supersonic Particle Deposition? SPD is a revolutionary process for making repairs to aircrafts. Also known as “cold-spray” repair, SPD involves a high pressure spraying process as a means to apply metal particles to rebuild corroded parts, thereby extending the overall life and usefulness of an aircraft. This technique is all done without creating an area affected by heat, as would occur during welding or other similar processes.

During this demonstration, the University of Akron and Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services announced a public-private partnership to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for cold-spray technology on a wide-scale commercial basis. Under this project partnership, Wilmington Air Park and its facilities will lead the way for this new manufacturing development to become the first location in the country to receive FAA approval and use the technology for more efficient and safer airplane repairs.

I am especially proud that I was able to work with my fellow members in the House and in the Ohio Senate to secure funding for this project through the state operating budget in the 131st General Assembly. Ohio has always been a trailblazer in the aviation industry, and this initiative will maintain this standing nationwide. Not only can our state continue to boast about its leadership regarding aeronautical advancements in technology, but these steps will seek to benefit the commercial aircraft industry worldwide.

These tremendous developments will not only impact the entire country and the world, but they also have an even more important influence right here in our community, in Clinton County and southern Ohio. This collaboration marks the first steps toward greater economic growth and job creation; with the launch of this innovative technology at Wilmington Air Park, the park has the opportunity to expand and become an even more dominant presence in the transportation, manufacturing, and logistics markets.

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By Cliff Rosenberger

Guest Columnist

Cliff Rosenberger is the Ohio House Speaker.

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