Going Beyond Borders with Metal Craft Technologies
Courtney Overbey
Friday, December 17, 2021
Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s International Trade program helps businesses expand and grow—both right here in Michigan and around the globe. Each year, the International Trade team assists hundreds of companies in increasing their export sales, which contributes to job creation within the state.
Metal Craft Technologies is one of these companies. Based in Novi, Metal Craft Technologies delivers engineering resources and solutions to manufacturing companies worldwide, with a focus on the automotive and transportation industries.
In this episode of Beyond Borders—a video series featuring Michigan companies that have expanded globally with the support of the MEDC’s International Trade team—we speak with Metal Craft Technologies’ President and CEO Ray Fernandez, who has over 35 years of experience in international trade, to uncover his advice on how to succeed in the global market.
According to Ray, one of the best steps companies can take on the road to expanding internationally is signing up to attend an MEDC trade mission. The MEDC’s International Trade team hosts in-person and virtual trade shows and missions to create opportunity for Michigan businesses and international companies to network. Metal Craft Technologies has attended three trade missions, traveling alongside the MEDC to China, Germany, England and India.
“The International Trade team is comprised of dedicated professionals,” Fernandez says about the MEDC representatives who work in-country to serve more than 130 markets. “If you explain your business to them, they can find the right connections and coordinate the right meetings.”
Focusing on purchase orders when you expand overseas is a common mistake new businesses make. According to Fernandez, it’s not all about the purchase order; success in the global market is about maintaining the right connections and establishing trust among your international partners.
“The purchase order will come,” Fernandez says. “What it’s really about is making the connection last.”
If you’re looking to establish long-lasting connections with international business partners, visit michiganbusiness.org/export or contact your international trade manager.
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