Symetrics expands with purchase of new facility at Nasa Palms Center

Symetrics expands with purchase of new facility at Nasa Palms Center

Symetrics Industries Inc. continues to grow and add employees to its ranks in the face of a tumultuous business environment that for the past 24 months has forced many companies into a defensive, cost-cutting mode.

The private Melbourne business, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Garner, a University of Central Florida chemistry graduate, has grown its work force from around 150 employees last year to 170 in 2010.

Technology businesses across the nation seem to be leading the recovery, as many of them are hiring people again to keep up with new demand.

First-quarter bookings this year at Symetrics - a company that specializes in the design, manufacture, and testing of electronics systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, and prime contractors - have surged.

The company's business is concentrated in three core segments: data links, aircraft self-protection systems, and electronic-manufacturing services.

"We've had an incredible three months of booking business, which is something that I am very forced on," said Garner, whose company is expanding to a location near its 42,000-square-foot corporate headquarters on West NASA Boulevard.

"In just the first three months, we're nearly half way to our booking' goal for the year. We've had a great year so far, and we're hoping to keep the momentum going."

The uplifting news is on top of a U.S. Army contract Symetrics won in the fall of 2009, which has the potential to mature into a $50 million deal. Presently, the current contract is worth roughly $20 million in business.

"It was a huge win for us," he said, adding that the award has increased the company's need for space for Symetrics' growing team of engineers.

Garner did not have to look far for expansion space for his company which was a public entity more than a decade ago before going private.

Commercial real estate developer John Newton's new Nasa Palms Professional Center is just a short walk next door from Symetrics' corporate location.

When fully developed, Nasa Palms will feature seven buildings totaling 42, 000 square feet. Five of the buildings situated on a five-acre campus, have been completed and house a number of private medical practices.

Nasa Palms is where Garner's company purchased a new 6,000-square-foot, existing building "shell," extending its corporate footprint from 1615 W. Nasa Blvd.

The interior of the Nasa Palms facility is being fitted to meet Symetrics' specific needs. The new site will house 15 to 20 engineers, Garner said.

This transaction is an example of how a well-managed small business is giving a lift to the local commercial real-estate market during one of the most challenging times for brokers.

Commercial real estate is the basis for much of the growth in American industry and the economy. But high unemployment rates and tight credit conditions have hampered the market's performance over the past year. As a result, it has sharply sliced into sales transaction for commercial real-estate professionals.

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Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability

Symetrics gets $3.5M order

Symetrics gets $3.5M order

The 160 employees of Symetrics Industries in Melbourne will be kept working for at least 18 months by a $3.5 million aircraft defense order placed this week by the U.S. Air Force, the company said.

"We may have a need for maybe one or two other positions," Symetrics President and CEO Mitch Garner said. "All of this work will be done in Melbourne."

When a missile is launched against an aircraft, the company's AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System receives information from sensors on the aircraft and releases chaff or a flare to deter a missile. The defense system is on everything from the speedy F-16 to the lumber C-130. It's been called the "Guardian Angel" by those in the military who use it.

"It's one of the most widely used countermeasures in the world," Garner said.

This marks the 20th delivery order placed against a five-year contract Symetrics won in November 2006.

Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability

Symetrics makes list of 50 Most Influential Businesses in Brevard County

Symetrics makes list of 50 Most Influential Businesses in Brevard County

Why it made the list: A locally-owned business for more than four decades, Symetrics continues to grow with products like line replaceable units; a chaff and flare dispenser system for protection against hostile missile threats, along with the flight line tester for dispensers; the MD-1295A improved data modem for digital communication onboard military aircraft; the PRISM Improved Data Modem, which adds an imagery transmission system to the aircraft; the AN/ USQ-131 Memory Loader Verifier Set for transfer and verification of electronic warfare software; circuit card assemblies for the prime contractor for Bradley Fighting Vehicle optics and the systems for Apache helicopters; and Arrow missile systems.

The company, which stresses "caring leadership, incentive-based improvement programs, (and) quality workmanship;' had a 99.4 percent on-time delivery rate last year. It also is community-oriented, having supported the Eau Gallie Rotary Club with its 2008 Space Coast Lightfest; and contributed to the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, Junior Achievement, the March for Babies and Covenant Christian School. The company also participated in career shadowing event at Melbourne High School.

In recent months, Symetrics was named "Manufacturer of the Year" by the Manufacturers' Association of Florida.

Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability

Does your Staff Keep You Up at Night?

Does your Staff Keep You Up at Night?

"Up,” as in wide awake? Or do they allow you to sleep soundly? If your answer is the former, then my advice to you would be to surround yourself with a staff you can rely upon. I believe one of the best things I have done in my eight year tenure leading Symetrics is to build a cohesive management staff that is reliable and dependable. The wrong people can really sidetrack one's thinking and energies on a day-to-day basis. Conversely, the right people can make your job so much easier.

Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability