The U.S. Department of Commerce Honors Georgia-based P.A.R.T.S. Inc. With Award for Export Achievement & Job Growth

With 99 percent of its business coming from export sales, Stockbridge-based Parts and Repair Technical Services Inc. was a logical choice to receive the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Achievement Certificate award.

Michael Camunez, assistant secretary of commerce for market access and compliance, traveled to the suburb just south of Atlanta to personally present P.A.R.T.S Inc. CEO J.C. Roland (a native of Chester, Ga.) with the award.

In accepting the award, Mr. Roland acknowledged that the past year had been a challenging one for P.A.R.T.S. Inc. but that with the Department of Commerce’s assistance it had been able to expand its business of supplying civil and military aircraft parts and defense services.

In addition to maintaining its status as a major supplier of F-15 parts to the Royal Saudi Air Force, P.A.R.T.S. Inc. has also expanded its sales to others including Singapore, Japan, Israel, Egypt and Indonesia.

“We’re a company that has always flown below the radar,” said Roland. This award and recognition has certainly put our work and accomplishments on display. It truly is a testament to P.A.R.T.S. and all of our employees around the world.”

The Export Achievement award recognizes companies that have benefited from the Commercial Service’s export assistance programs to make its first export sale or expand to new foreign markets.

Mr. Camunez praised the efforts of P.A.R.T.S. Inc. pointing out that 95 percent of the world’s consumers are outside of the U.S.

He also held up the company as an example of what more U.S. companies should be doing. Only 1 percent of U.S. companies export, he said, adding that 50 percent of them only export to the border nations Canada and Mexico.

Founded in 2003, the company, known as PARTS Inc., has 47 employees with 30 based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where it sends equipment from more than 140 U.S. aircraft parts manufacturers, specializing in hard-to-find or obsolete parts, and defense services such as technical maintenance training.

It is compliant with U.S. State Department guidelines for technical assistance and international traffic in arms regulations.

Besides critical aircraft spare parts and technical expertise, PARTS Inc. provides support equipment such as the flight-line tow tractors, which were on view for Mr. Camunez in the company's warehouse and were due to be shipped out in the near future.

To learn more about PARTS Inc., go here. For more information about the Commercial Service's export initiatives, go here.

“PARTS, Inc. is a shining example of how innovative Georgia businesses are tapping export assistance resources to enter into global markets or to increase sales in existing markets, which ultimately supports jobs and creates economic growth here at home.” Camunez said. “Given the fact that ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers are beyond U.S. borders, the Commerce Department focuses on providing support to U.S. businesses so they have a competitive edge when expanding into foreign markets.”

PARTS, Inc. started out like many innovative businesses do – at someone’s kitchen table - back in 2003 with just a handful of employees. By embracing the international marketplace, PARTS has grown into a multimillion dollar company with 47 employees supplying civil and military aircraft parts and defense services to Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, Israel, Egypt, and Indonesia. Now 99% of PARTS, Inc.’s business is attributed to export sales!

PARTS, Inc. represents more than 140 U.S. aircraft parts manufacturers, specializing in urgent, non-stock listed, hard-to-find, or obsolete parts. They also specialize in providing defense-related training programs, and currently hold a contract with the Royal Saudi Air Force to provide F-15 Flight Line Training. With assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service staff in Atlanta and abroad, PARTS has increased sales of aircraft parts and defense services to Saudi Arabia, enabling them to overcome the challenge of being perceived as just another spare parts supplier. Instead, they are recognized as an industry leader in the Middle East and beyond. Surely they will be an inspiration to other companies which also have export potential.

In January 2010, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative which aims to double U.S. exports by 2015 while supporting millions of new jobs. Last year, overall U.S. exports grew by 17 percent.

As part of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the U.S. Commercial Service connects U.S. companies with international buyers. The Commercial Service Atlanta is part of the agency’s worldwide network of offices located in 109 U.S. cities and nearly 80 countries. For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service visit www.export.gov.