August 2020 MiMfg Magazine 15
If you can bear the bumpy road, stay
the course. You may find excellent
opportunity to become an exporter
due to your foreign competitors not
being ready to serve their markets.
— Don DeCorte, Vice President of RoMan
Manufacturing, Inc.
B&P Littleford
With nearly 60 to 80 percent of its business done
through exporting, Saginaw’s B&P Littleford has
made this a top priority. As a designer of mixing,
drying, compounding, reacting, extracting and
centrifugal separation equipment, B&P has seen great
success in China, where its core businesses are growing.
The COVID pandemic has resulted in projects
being behind schedule — a ripple effect of lower demand
and potential shutdown carrying huge implications.
“Needless to say, this is important to us,” said
Bob Lytkowski, Director of International Sales for
B&P Littleford. “One area we have seen an increase
in is part sales. With companies operating at lower
rates, they have the time and ability to service and
repair equipment. Our bookings are ahead of
previous years and this has resulted in a shift of
our sales efforts.”
Lytkowski advises manufacturers of all sizes to
prepare for potential delays and utilize contacts in
local regions to gather insight into future trade
prospects from those in-the-know in the absence of
a timetable related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Michigan’s District Export Councils:
Your Single-Stop Source for Export Advice
Manufacturers must also stay looped in on all the
aspects of trade & exporting that could affect their
competitiveness. Few resources are more reliable
than connecting with fellow manufacturers and
industry stakeholders.
The East Michigan & West Michigan District
Export Councils are volunteer organizations that
encourage and support the strengthening of American
businesses through export, U.S. economic growth,
and job creation. The Councils are made up of
business leaders from the local community whose
knowledge of and expertise in international business
provide practical, hands-on consulting, educational
and resource services to assist small and mediumsized
businesses to grow their businesses overseas.
Jean Schtokal is an international trade attorney
for Foster Swift and chair of the West Michigan
District Export Council since 2014. She regulary
advises manufacturers to connect with low-cost
or no-cost export assistance offered by the state
of Michigan through the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation (MEDC) STEP grant
program and the U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) in Michigan.
“Currently we are trying to get the word out
that now through 9/30/20 many of USEAC (U.S.
Export Assistance Centers) export services have
no fee at all or a significantly reduced fee,” said
Schtokal. “Michigan manufacturers should act
now and consider signing up for those services.”
MMA Member Highlights
RoMan Manufacturing Inc.
Industry-leading manufacturer of AC water-cooled transformers,
DC Power Sources and related specialty products including
application-centric technical support and engineering services.
Member since March 1996
Learn more: romanmfg.com
Steelcase Inc.
Global producer of architecture, furniture and technology
products and services designed to unlock human promise
and support social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Member since August 1932
Learn more: steelcase.com