In The News

Long-Stanton, French firm sign agreement

July 18, 2012  |  Long-Stanton West Chester Ohio

Written by Josh Pichler

West Chester-based The Long-Stanton Group announced on Tuesday an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Paris-based DEFI GROUP, which makes components for large, commercial airline manufacturers including Airbus and Boeing.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Daniel B. Cunningham, president and chief executive officer of Long-Stanton, said the agreement reflects the competitive costs, dependable supply chain and quality control that U.S. manufacturers offer companies that work in global aviation. He said this region is well positioned for aviation business thanks in part to the presence of companies such as Evendale-based GE Aviation.

Orders for GE and CFM International, GE Aviation’s joint venture with Snecma, totaled more than $17.5 billion at last week’s Farnborough Airshow in England.

Cunningham said Long-Stanton and DEFI GROUP have been doing business for the past three years, and Tuesday’s agreement builds on that existing relationship. He said Long-Stanton’s business with DEFI GROUP involves manufacturing brake parts for airplanes including Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, and is already “substantial.”

“We’re making everything here in Cincinnati, which is really good news,” Cunningham said. “It’s a global world. Our customers are in France, we make (their order) in Cincinnati. It should be a nice, substantial business for our region for a long time.”

In a statement, DEFI GROUP vice president Arnaud Randon said his company has been manufacturing metal parts for aviation customers for more than 20 years.

“Long-Stanton fully meets our expectations and is now able to deliver parts under the same conditions of quality, cost and delivery as our French factories,” Randon said.

Long-Stanton, established in 1862, currently employs about 75 workers, Cunningham said. It serves a wide variety of industries including medical equipment and devices, consumer products and transportation.