MENOMINEE -- Menominee company, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, has a new owner. They were recently bought by Chinese company, Chongqing Helicopter Investment Corporation. Enstrom officials say the move will allow them to develop more products and hire more employees.
Within the next five to ten years, Enstrom President and CEO, Jerry Mullins, says the company will plan on hiring hundreds of more people in Menominee.
They’ve had 50 percent employment growth in the last 18 months, and they're hoping to grow, as well, across the globe. Enstrom has built helicopters for over 50 countries, and Asia is a rapidly growing market.
“China chose us,” explains Enstrom President and CEO Jerry Mullins. “Enstrom Helicopters have done extremely well for the last two years, and we’ve won some major contracts throughout the world."
So what does the acquisition mean for Enstrom? Mullins says the new Chinese owners hope to have about 100 helicopters made at Enstrom within the next three to four years.
The helicopters will continue to be made in the U.S. for now.
“It's an exciting time for Enstrom employees and the Menominee area. We’re going to be put on the map as a large helicopter manufacturer that can compete with the real large helicopter manufacturers throughout the world," Mullins says.
Along with facility expansion, the company also hopes to pursue additional markets they haven't been able to pursue because they previously did not have the marketing resources.
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