This year, McCann Aerospace Machining will be celebrating 51 years in Athens, Georgia.  McCann is a Tier II supplier of large, complex monolithic machined structural parts and assemblies for the global aerospace industry and supplies several of the highest value commercial aerospace and military platforms, including the Boeing 787, Gulfstream G650 and Lockheed Martin F-35.  During the past five decades in Athens, McCann has earned the reputation as one of Georgia’s largest aerospace machining companies. 

Originally founded as McCann Machine Company, Inc. in 1963 by Bill and June McCann, the company established their prominence in the industry by focusing on quality production of complex aerospace components.  Through the years, McCann’s experience, knowledge, and quality production has positioned them among the world’s most capable machining facilities. They are currently in the process of expanding their facility and adding employees to their roster of over 200 teammates. 

In preparation for their anticipated growth, McCann recently entered into a partnership with Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry. McCann will be integrated into Accurus Aerospace Corporation ("Accurus"), a leading Tier II supplier of highly engineered machined parts, kits and assemblies and processing services, focused on the highest value aircraft platforms.

McCann is currently in the process of a major facility expansion to consolidate its two Athens facilities into one centralized location. Their current location at 180 Trans Tech Drive will receive an additional 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 8,000 square feet of warehouse space and 9,500 square feet of administrative office space.  The $5 million dollar investment required the purchase of adjoining property, which was owned by their neighboring manufacturer NORAMCO.  The former facility at 650 Old Hull Road will be available for lease in fall of 2015.  In addition to the physical expansion, the company will be installing a $5 million dollar 5-Axis High RPM Machining Center capable of machining Aluminum plate up to 18 feet in length, and finally erecting a sign. Bruce Skinner the Expansion Project Manager expressed his enthusiasm about the project. “McCann has been in Athens for over 50 years and very few people in Athens know we are here, but the Aerospace industry knows we’re here.  The expansion and additional machine capacity will bring in more work.  The new sign will let everyone know who we are.” The facility expansion is anticipated for completion in September of 2015.

As McCann has deep roots in the Athens area, it was a priority for the company to pour as much of the expansions’ investment as possible back into their local economy. They are working with Athens-based engineering and architecture firm, Armentrout, Matheny, Thurmond, P.C., and have hired Kevin Price of Watkinsville as their General Contractor.

Another exciting development at McCann Aerospace is their educational partnership with nearby Athens Technical College. Together they have developed a program to train machinists in the skills necessary to work at their plant.  Students take their classes during the week and gain hands-on experience by working as employees on weekends at the McCann facility.  As an added incentive, McCann offers a tuition reimbursement program to students who maintain a C and above average. The certificate program takes just 3 semesters to complete or students can continue on to get an Associate’s Degree in 2 years.  Training for current employees who wish to increase their knowledge or work towards a promotion is available through the partnership as well. 

“Athens Tech has been really great to work with and has helped us develop a great program where we are able to mold our future workforce,” shares Eddie Mabe, Director of Human Resources. “We just started the program for current employees and already have 16 signed up.”

McCann Aerospace has been a valuable contributor to the Athens community for the past 51 years and we look forward to seeing what they will accomplish next.  Expanded facilities, exciting new partnerships, and a growing workforce means that the sky is the limit for this local leader in the aerospace machining industry.