Unison was recognized by Commerce Chenango as the 2024 Manufacturer of the Year. Employees view a LEAP engine on display for at Unison. (Submitted photo)

by Sophia Root,

Commerce Chenango

NORWICH – On September 25, Unison, a GE Aerospace company, was proud to announce that it has been honored with the 2024 Commerce Chenango Manufacturer of the Year award.

The prestigious award recognizes Unison’s significant contributions to the local community and ongoing commitment to manufacturing excellence.

Commerce  Chenango has a storied tradition of manufacturing excellence, and Unison has been a cornerstone of this legacy for many years. The company’s dedication to innovation, quality, and community engagement has made it a vital part of the region’s economic and social fabric.

“We are deeply honored to receive the 2024 Commerce Chenango Manufacturer of the Year award,” said Shannon Slack, site leader at Unison. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are committed to continuing our tradition of excellence and contributing to the prosperity of Chenango County.”

In a demonstration of its ongoing commitment to the Norwich community, GE Aerospace recently invested $3.4 million into the Unison site.

This investment will enhance the facility’s capabilities, support advanced manufacturing processes, and ensure that Unison remains at the forefront of aerospace innovation.

“The recent investment by GE Aerospace further underscores our commitment to the future of Unison and the community as a whole,” added Shannon Slack. “We are excited about the opportunities this investment will bring, including the creation of new jobs and the development of cutting-edge technologies.”

Commerce Chenango’s recognition of Unison highlights the company’s role as a leader in the local manufacturing sector and its positive impact on the community.

Unison, has 400 employees and over 40 job openings. The facility is unique in that each part of the manufacturing process, from design engineering to manufacturing to testing/inspection, can be performed by skilled laborers and departments in house. This fosters a collaborative environment and leads to more efficient production.

Unison Industries is a leading global supplier of complex gas turbine engine components and electrical & mechanical systems. Unison supplies nearly every engine and airframe program, providing the most advanced performance solutions for a wide variety of markets including aviation, space and defense, power, oil and gas, and transportation. Unison is a global company, employing more than 2,000 people across five major manufacturing locations as well as engineering centers and supporting sites worldwide.

In a few years, the Norwich facility has gone from producing a few space products to 50-60 space products. They have also made workforce improvements by creating a specialized welding program at DCMO BOCES that primes students for a position at GE Unison.

On Wednesday, September 25th, Unison, a GE Aerospace Company, held and event on campus for their employees that exemplified what makes the company so special. Unison manufactures sensors, inserts, stators and rotors for jet engines, and sells them to engine production companies such CFM International. Companies like CFM then provide these engines to airlines like Boeing, Airbus, and Comac.

CFM is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and is taking one of their engines, the LEAP-1B, on tour to different manufacturing locations. During the event last month, Norwich employees were able to see a LEAP engine up close and personal, most likely for the first time. This gave them the unique and tangible opportunity to connect the products they make with the purpose of the machine.

The company was founded in Guilford, NY as General Laboratory Associates in 1946. Eventually, GLA was incorporated and moved to Norwich, to the now (formerly) CWS building on Midland Drive. The campus continued growth across the street, and expanded another facility on State Street, where the old silk mill was. These were known as Plant #1 and Plant #2.

During the 1960’s, GLA continued its momentum and added plant #3 on Route 12, where it still stands. In the following 40 years, ownership of the company changed to include Simmonds Precision, Hercules Inc., BFGoodrich Aerospace, Unison Industries, and the current owner, General Electric (GE) Aviation.

GLA has an impressive portfolio, including having made the first electronic ignition system that ignited the Centaur Space Vehicle’s rocket engine when it launched from Cape Canaveral in November of 1963. Multiple GLA products supported the Apollo 11 launch and moon landing in July 1969, providing ignition of the second and third stages, as well as positive separation of the extended separation. Presently, the company has exciting projects on the horizon.

Along with high profile clients such as Rolls Royce, Blue Origin and major commercial airline companies, Unison GE is in, “a good position to take on more military opportunities and projects” according to Senior Engineering Manager Clair Tompkins.

Unison, a GE Aerospace Company has much to celebrate. Their recent $3.4 million investment will improve their company for decades to come. They have been selected as the 2024 Manufacturer of the Year because they have their eyes set to the future and are significant contributors to the economic prosperity of Chenango County.

(Unison history provided in part by Patricia F. Scott, Registered Historian, member of association of public historians of nys APHNYS)