Aerospace Welding Minneapolis

What Aerospace Welding Minneapolis does

Aerospace Welding Minneapolis (AWI), founded in 1993 and headquartered in a 35,000 square-foot facility in Eagan, Minnesota, is an FAA Part 145 Certified Repair Station and FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) holder that manufactures and repairs exhaust systems and engine mounts for general aviation aircraft. Its catalog spans complete exhaust systems, individual components (mufflers, stacks, shrouds, risers, tailpipes, clamps, gaskets, carb heat boxes), engine mounts, and a premium 4-Into-1 high-performance exhaust, supporting airframes from Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, Cirrus, Diamond, American Champion, Aviat, and others. In-house capabilities encompass certified welding, precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, tube bending, tooling and fixtures, finishing and coating, and engineering/R&D.

The company serves individual general aviation aircraft owners, A&P mechanics and FAA-certified repair stations, and flight schools and operators primarily in the United States. Distribution is via a direct-to-customer e-commerce storefront (awi-ami.com) complemented by phone ordering, with quote-based pricing, net 30 invoicing, and an integrated 'Wanted Parts' core buyback flow. Brand and demand generation lean on aviation trade publications, FAA association resource pages (AOPA, EAA, NBAA, Cessna Pilots Association, American Bonanza Society), and flagship events (Sun 'n Fun, Oshkosh Airventure). AWI has expanded through the 2013 acquisition of Kosola and Associates and the 2022 merger with ACORN, each of which remains a wholly-owned subsidiary under retained branding, consolidating exhaust system manufacturing and overhaul into a single operation.

Name

Aerospace Welding Minneapolis

Legal name

Aerospace Welding Minneapolis, Inc. LLC

Website

https://awi-ami.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aerospace Welding Minneapolis is an FAA Part 145 Repair Station and PMA holder that designs, manufactures, and overhauls aircraft exhaust systems and engine mounts for general aviation airframes (Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, and others), selling direct to aircraft owners, mechanics, and repair shops via e-commerce and phone orders out of its Eagan, Minnesota facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Exhaust Systems & Engine Mounts

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & General Aviation Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAC)

Keywords

• Aircraft exhaust systems
• Engine mount repair
• FAA PMA parts
• Precision machining
• Sheet metal fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Eagan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Parts Sales: Sale of new and overhauled aircraft exhaust components and engine mounts for general aviation aircraft including Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, and other makes. Parts include mufflers, stacks, shrouds, risers, tailpipes, clamps, gaskets, and other exhaust components.
2. Repair and Overhaul Services: FAA Certified Repair Station providing repair and overhaul services for aircraft exhaust systems and engine mounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aerospace Welding Minneapolis (AWI) manufactures and sells new and overhauled aircraft exhaust systems and engine mounts for general aviation aircraft across 16+ makes including Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, Cirrus, and Diamond. The company operates an FAA Certified Repair Station providing certified welding, precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, tube bending, and finishing/coating services, with FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for specific replacement parts on certified aircraft. Customers place orders through the company's e-commerce storefront or by phone, and repair/overhaul work is submitted via dedicated service request forms.

Product overview

Aerospace Welding Minneapolis (AWI) operates as a specialized aviation repair station offering a unified portfolio of aircraft exhaust systems and engine mounts for general aviation aircraft. The core product lines include complete exhaust systems and engine mounts, supplemented by FAA PMA certified parts. Manufacturing capabilities include certified welding, precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, tube bending, tooling and fixtures, and finishing/coating services. Individual exhaust components (mufflers, stacks, risers, tailpipes, shrouds, gaskets, adapters, seals, carb heat boxes) are available separately. The company also offers a 4-into-1 high performance exhaust as a premium product option. All services support multiple aircraft makes including Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, Cirrus, Diamond, American Champion, Aviat, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Exhaust Systems Complete exhaust systems for general aviation aircraft, including mufflers, stacks, risers, tailpipes, shrouds, and associated components, sold across multiple aircraft makes (Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Mooney, Cirrus, etc.). Targeted at aircraft owners and A&P mechanics performing scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
• Engine Mounts New and overhauled aircraft engine mounts for various general aviation aircraft models, with FAA PMA certified parts available for specific applications.
• 4-Into-1 High Performance Aircraft Exhaust High-performance exhaust system combining four cylinders into one outlet, marketed as a performance upgrade option for general aviation aircraft.
• Exhaust Components Individual exhaust system components sold separately, including mufflers, stacks, shrouds, risers, tailpipes, clamps, gaskets, spring kits, caps, adapters, seals, and carb heat boxes.
• Certified Welding Services Professional welding services for aircraft exhaust and structural components, delivered by skilled craftsmen using certified welding procedures. Offered to aircraft operators and repair shops requiring FAA-compliant weld work.
• Precision Machining Services Precision machining services for manufacturing aircraft components, executed by experienced tool makers. Available for custom parts and production runs for aviation customers.
• Sheet Metal Fabrication Services Metal fabrication services delivered in AWI's 35,000 square foot facility using latest fabrication tools and skilled certified fabricators to produce aircraft components and assemblies to customer specifications.
• Tooling & Fixtures Custom tooling and fixture manufacturing for aircraft exhaust and engine mount production, supporting both internal manufacturing and customer-specific tooling needs.
• Tube Bending Services Precision tube bending services for aircraft exhaust system fabrication, supporting custom and production run requirements for aviation customers.
• Finishing & Coating Services Surface finishing and coating services for aircraft components, used both internally and offered to customers requiring finished parts ready for installation.
• Engineering / Research & Development Services Product development and engineering services for new aircraft exhaust and engine mount designs, supporting FAA PMA development and customer-specific engineering projects.
• FAA-Certified Repair and Overhaul Services Repair and overhaul services for aircraft exhaust systems and engine mounts, performed under the company's FAA Part 145 Certified Repair Station designation. Customers submit work via the online Exhaust & Mount Repair Form.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kosola and AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2013Acquisition of Kosola and Associates expanding product offerings and capabilities in aircraft exhaust systems.
• ACORNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWI merger with ACORN creating a one-stop exhaust shop for expanded service capabilities. Combined entity provides comprehensive exhaust repair and manufacturing services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Superior Air Parts: Manufactures FAA-PMA approved replacement engine cylinders, pistons, and related engine components for the Lycoming and Continental engine families that AWI also serves. Overlaps with AWI on FAA-certified parts manufacturing and direct sales to A&P mechanics and engine overhaul shops.
• RAM Aircraft: Provides engine and exhaust system MRO, overhauls, and parts for general aviation aircraft, with FAA-certified repair station capabilities. Competes directly with AWI's repair and overhaul services for engine-related components and shares the same owner-pilot and mechanic customer segments.
• Aircraft Spruce & Specialty: Large general aviation parts distributor and catalog retailer serving aircraft owners and mechanics with exhaust components, engine accessories, and consumables. Comparable business model to AWI on the parts retail/distribution side, though Aircraft Spruce is a broad-line distributor rather than a manufacturer like AWI.
• PowerFlow Systems: Direct competitor to AWI, manufacturing high-performance aircraft exhaust systems specifically for general aviation piston aircraft including Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft models. Competes head-to-head on the same SKUs (mufflers, stacks, risers) targeting the same owner-pilot and A&P mechanic customer base.
• McFarlane Aviation: Major independent general aviation aftermarket parts distributor and manufacturer offering FAA-PMA approved components across multiple aircraft systems. Highly comparable business model to AWI with PMA-certified parts, e-commerce direct sales, and a broad catalog serving Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft owners.

Broad incumbents

• Precision Aviation Group (PAG): Large-scale provider of MRO services and parts distribution across multiple aviation components (hydraulics, avionics, engines, accessories). While much larger and broader than AWI, PAG is comparable as an FAA-certified MRO/parts platform that competes for similar aftermarket wallet share with general aviation operators and mechanics.
• Continental Aerospace Technologies: Major manufacturer of certified piston aircraft engines that interface directly with AWI's exhaust systems and engine mounts. While Continental operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio (engines, avionics, parts), its engine platforms are the primary installed base for AWI's products, making it both a strategic incumbent and an indirect supply chain partner.
• Textron Aviation: Manufacturer of Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft — the two largest airframe platforms AWI supports with exhaust systems and engine mounts. As both a key customer (driving parts demand through its installed base) and a broad aerospace incumbent, Textron represents both a major demand driver and a strategic counterparty with potential to insource PMA parts production.
• Lycoming Engines: Largest manufacturer of general aviation piston engines (a Textron Aviation brand). Lycoming engines power the majority of AWI's target fleet (Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, Beechcraft Bonanza), making it a critical adjacent incumbent whose engine specifications and service bulletins directly drive AWI's product demand.
• Hartzell Propeller: Established aerospace components manufacturer producing propellers and related engine accessories for general aviation. While Hartzell's primary focus is propellers rather than exhaust systems, it is a comparably sized FAA-regulated aerospace components manufacturer with similar engineering, machining, and PMA-certification capabilities as AWI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerospace Welding Minneapolis