West Virginia Executive Summer 2025 | Page 49

Smart Shift

Tech-Driven Growth in the Mountain State

As artificial intelligence( AI) and technology sectors continue to evolve, West Virginia companies are poised to take advantage of these advancements and make a place for themselves in the modern industry.
MEGAN BEVINS
Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences has locations across the country, one being based in Bridgeport, WV. Scott Jones, senior manufacturing manager of operations, says the company has experienced major growth including a recent expansion adding 50,000 square feet to the Bridgeport facility.
Jones says at Aurora, human-machine collaboration helps increase safety and success of complex missions.
“ Aurora uses cutting-edge technology, including automation and robotics, to meet the exacting standards of our customers,” he says.“ For example, our robotic composite manufacturing cell uses robots for precise part machining, transport and dimensional inspection of aircraft components. Increasingly, humans are working cooperatively with robots to deliver manufacturing accuracy and repeatability beyond what can be achieved by either alone.”
As AI continues to evolve, Aurora is interested in discovering how it can help meet demand for unmanned aircraft systems and provide more opportunities for the company.
Touchstone Advanced Composites
Triadelphia, WV is home to Touchstone Advanced Composites: creator of the CFOAM carbon foam material, made entirely from West Virginia-mined coal.
“ We are proud to say that CFOAM tools have been used to make parts for a number of high-performance aircraft and spacecraft that are in flight today,” says Dan Connell, president of Touchstone Advanced Composites.
The Triadelphia facility recently underwent an expansion to grow manufacturing space as well as added making carbon fiber composite aircraft parts to its services. This means the facility can now house engineering, tooling and part production all in one place. Connell also says that though Touchstone has only just begun exploring AI, it recognizes the impact it will likely have on the composite space.
“ We’ re definitely paying attention to AI, taking advantage of low-risk opportunities to test and get familiar with it and ultimately thinking about the biggest problems we have to solve and how AI might prove to be a useful tool,” he says.
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