MEIDOH Co., Ltd., an international leader in the production of automotive fasteners, announced it has acquired Pilgrim Screw Corporation d/b/a Pilgrim Aerospace Fasteners (“Pilgrim”).

Pilgrim is a leading manufacturer of screws, bolts, rivets, clevis pins, and other fasteners for the aerospace market with manufacturing operations located in Chandler. Pilgrim’s customers include some of the world’s biggest names in the aerospace industry.

MEIDOH, a third-generation company owned by the Hasegawa family, is the premier supplier of bolts to Toyota. They have manufacturing plants in Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and the United States with more than 2,000 employees worldwide.

“Pilgrim is a trusted supplier to the aerospace industry,” said Yasutaka Hasegawa, the President & CEO of MEIDOH. “This acquisition will allow us to diversify our business while furthering our mission of being the world’s number one fastener manufacturer.”

“MEDIOH is a recognized leader in our industry, and we felt they were the right partner, at the right time,” said Geoff Grove, President of Pilgrim Aerospace Fasteners. “With MEDIOH’s resources, Pilgrim will reach a new level of growth and success.”

Pilgrim established its Chandler operations in 1998. There are currently 50 employees at the 24,500-square-foot facility, located at 2875 W. Frye Road within the Price Corridor. The property includes land for future growth.

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Are you an entrepreneur interested in connecting with likeminded individuals and important resources to grow your ideas? The ASU Chandler Innovation Center (ACIC) is an innovative partnership between the City of Chandler and Arizona State University working to support and further activate the East Valley’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Centrally located downtown, ACIC includes classrooms, conference space and a co-working space designed to foster a creative environment for innovative, entrepreneurial, community-based programs and projects.

Nearly six months after the much anticipated opening of the Chandler Endeavor Venture Innovation Incubator, three companies have already made the site home (ProCarePortal, EnKoat, Vulcreate) and over 339 founders and innovators have engaged with the incubator. Over the next several months, there are various events, training programs, and pitch competitions available in Chandler, including the East Valley’s first Innovation Night in March. Below is a quick list of the programs and events scheduled through Chandler Endeavor at the ASU Chandler Innovation Center in February; events are free and open to the public.

• Monthly Forum: Feb. 7, 5 - 7 p.m.
• Founder Friday: Feb. 9, 9 - 10 a.m.
• Pitch In: Feb. 14 and Feb. 28, 9 - 10 a.m.
• Coffee + Connections: Feb. 21, 9 - 10 a.m.
• London Writer's Hour: Feb. 21, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Full story and events listing to June 2024

New monument signs have been installed at seven key locations within the Chandler Airpark Area as part of a city branding initiative for the employment corridor. Completion of this project advances a goal in the Chandler Airpark Area Plan Update, adopted in October 2021, which calls on the City to implement gateway elements to help identify the Airpark Area.

The City worked with custom sign builder YESCO on sign design with feedback from local stakeholders, including leading employers, property owners, real estate brokers, and neighborhood leaders. The sign design is consistent with City brand standards, incorporates an aviation theme, and is double-sided to look good from any direction. The City previously worked with YESCO on the West Chandler monument signs project, which was awarded 2021 Monument Sign Design of the Year by the Arizona Sign Association.

The Airpark Area is one of five designated employment corridors in Chandler, covers nine square miles anchored by Chandler Municipal Airport, and home to more than 477 businesses employing 13,610 workers. It has been Chandler's fastest growing employment corridor in recent years and additional job growth is expected with 1.2 million square feet of industrial space currently under construction.

Join the City of Chandler in celebrating the exploration of invention by attending the Chandler Innovation Fair. This annual event showcases businesses, artists, students and innovators in the community as Chandler participates in the statewide Arizona SciTech Festival. This year's festivities will be held in Downtown Chandler on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Now in its 13th year, the City is again partnering with the Chandler Unified School District's Innovation Fair, which brings about greater district participation. This free event offers unique opportunities for attendees to explore the discoveries of science engineered in their own backyard and taught in Chandler Unified schools.

Local K-12 schools and organizations have once again been invited to participate in the Annual Chandler Innovation Fair Competition. Six winning teams will be awarded a $500 prize that will be presented to their school's science club or program for the most educational, most creative and most passionate projects.

This year's event will be bigger than ever with more than 100 participating exhibitors. Sponsors include ASML, Edwards Vacuum, First Things First, Intel, Microchip, Northrop Grumman, NXP, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Salt River Project, Sundt Construction, WM of Arizona, and Woz ED.

The City of Chandler was rated last month on its General Obligation (GO) and Excise Tax Revenue (ETRO) bonds, recently authorized for sale by the Chandler City Council. The city once again received the highest AAA/Aaa ratings from all three rating agencies on the GO bonds.

Chandler became the first municipality in Arizona to receive AAA/Aaa ratings across the board for its ETRO bonds. Moody’s Investors service had previously never given such a high rating for this type of debt in Arizona. Dawn Lang, the city’s Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer says, “This historic achievement is a direct result of Chandler’s excellent financial decisions and leadership over the past several years and translates to lower interest rates on the debt, thereby benefitting taxpayers.”

AAA bond ratings also signal to businesses and developers that Chandler is a safe place to invest with rating agencies anticipating sustained revenue growth and strong economic activity.

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