Florida Tech Research Park Welcomes International Tenant
MELBOURNE, FLA. — The Florida Tech Research Park at Melbourne International Airport has welcomed another important tenant.
Archo Solutions Engineering USA, of Sao Paolo, Brazil, will establish operations in Melbourne. Company officials signed lease agreements earlier this month to open Archo’s first U.S. facility at the park, a partnership between the airport and Florida Institute of Technology. The Melbourne Airport Authority has also approved the lease.
Archo plans to create 50 jobs by 2016 with operations focusing on design engineering solutions in aeronautical, automotive and naval sectors, as well as production of cabling, avionics racks and wiring harnesses. Consultancy and project management could be added.
Research park executives began courting Archo in May at the Expo Aero Brasil 2012. Archo worked with John Thomas, Florida Tech’s assistant vice president for economic development and community affairs.
“Melbourne is a major aviation and aerospace cluster that will grow over the next 10 years, and we will grow with them,” said Ivan Avila, Archo’s chief operations officer.
“We are working diligently to build a world-class, international aviation-aerospace community at the research park, and Archo clearly exemplifies the type of tenant we desire,” Thomas said.
“Our vision is clear,” added Winston Scott, Florida Tech senior vice president for external relations and economic development and former astronaut. “The Florida Tech Research Park is the Space Coast’s next great gateway to innovation and economic growth. Together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.”
Avila also credited officials at the airport, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and others with creating a supportive environment that convinced Archo to choose Melbourne over other suitors.
Brazilian aviation giant Embraer’s presence at the airport strongly influenced Archo’s decision, Avila said. Embraer is one of Archo’s biggest clients.
“We’ve been talking to Embraer, and they have a vision for Melbourne,” he said. “We are following that vision.”
The Archo lease adds to the airport’s growing list of aerospace tenants, including Embraer, Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, AAR and MidairUSA.
“The international market is taking notice of the airport’s significant growth in aviation and aerospace manufacturing,” said Executive Director Richard A. Ennis.
The Florida Tech Research Park is a self-sustaining innovation center focused on facilitating the creation, integration and application of solutions for the region’s constituents. This unique park represents an innovation conduit with an inflow of ideas, talent and capital from its partner networks and through the park’s facilitation hubs. It gives rise to an outflow of products, processes, services and ventures that create diversity, sustained markets and economic growth for the region. For more information, visit www.fit.edu/researchpark or call (321) 914-0742.
