They say when one hangar door closes, another one opens. The Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp. (AEM) story began in 2009 when respected avionics company, Northern Airborne Technology, ceased business after thirty years. Employees saw an opportunity to purchase it and have since grown the new company AEM into a vertically integrated provider of specialty aviation solutions, and they’ve never looked back.
Today, AEM is an approved OEM supplier to aircraft manufacturers such as Bell, Boeing Rotorcraft, Leonardo, Airbus Helicopters, Sikorsky, and Embraer. Out of their 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Kelowna’s north end, more than 115 specialized people design, develop and manufacture avionics products for the aviation industry’s Special Mission sector – aerial law enforcement, aerial firefighting and aerial search and rescue. Products such as aircraft communication and loudspeaker systems, avionics consoles, mission radios, and caution/warning panels.
The growing business also develops, manufactures, sells, and supports Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVM™) sensor technology and equipment, which help commercial airlines meet crack detection and inspection requirements for certain metal components of commercial airframes. Working in collaboration with Delta Air Lines and Boeing, CVM™ is the first FAA approved airframe crack detection compliance sensor solution for use on select B737 aircraft.
“We’re considered a small to medium sized business,” explains GM Taylor Wylie. “We operate in a niche market, so most of our products compete with only two or three key competitors. Our employees’ commitment to high standards and continuous improvement are instrumental in achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.”
“The aerospace industry has become a key economic driver in the region and Kelowna is an attractive place for emerging talent looking to develop their careers. We find that many non-local applicants want to move here because of the relaxed, vacation-style setting in a growing city full of opportunity.”
AEM is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMS Canada Corp, part of the Structural Monitoring Systems plc (ASX Code: SMN) companies (smsystems.com.au).