{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-15/park-aerospace-jet-engine-ramp-up-defense","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-15/park-aerospace-jet-engine-ramp-up-defense.md","title":"Park Aerospace CEO Defends Jet Engine Ramp-Up","headline":"Park Aerospace CEO Brian Shore Calls Reports Questioning Jet Engine Ramp-Up Incorrect","description":"Park Aerospace CEO Brian Shore said reports questioning the ramp-up of the company's commercial aircraft jet engine business are wrong and incorrect.","section":"Business","published_at":"2026-10-15T21:53:10+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-15T21:53:10+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Brian E. Shore, Chairman and CEO of Park Aerospace Corp., said reports questioning the robustness of the company's commercial aircraft jet engine ramp-up are wrong and incorrect.","Shore said the ramp-up is expected to be much steeper and more aggressive than previously understood, based on recent high-level discussions with a key customer.","Park Aerospace plans to aggressively ramp up staffing and production at its Newton, Kansas facility to meet the requirements, with relief expected from a planned new Tulsa, Oklahoma plant."],"companies":[{"name":"Park Aerospace Corp","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00069zt/park-aerospace-corp","website":"https://parkaerospace.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"GlobeNewswire","title":"Park Aerospace Corp. Chairman and CEO Comments on Certain Incorrect Reporting About the Robustness of the Ramp-Up of the Company’s Commercial Aircraft Jet Engine Business","url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3382189/0/en/park-aerospace-corp-chairman-and-ceo-comments-on-certain-incorrect-reporting-about-the-robustness-of-the-ramp-up-of-the-company-s-commercial-aircraft-jet-engine-business.html"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Business","Park Aerospace Corp"],"body_markdown":"Brian E. Shore, Chairman and CEO of [Park Aerospace Corp](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00069zt/park-aerospace-corp)., said on October 15, 2026 that recent independent reports questioning the robustness of the company's commercial aircraft jet engine ramp-up are wrong and incorrect. The company said the ramp-up is expected to be much steeper and more aggressive than previously understood, based on recent high-level discussions with its key customer.\n\n## Shore's Defense of the Jet Engine Ramp-Up\n\nShore's comments, distributed via [GlobeNewswire](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3382189/0/en/park-aerospace-corp-chairman-and-ceo-comments-on-certain-incorrect-reporting-about-the-robustness-of-the-ramp-up-of-the-company-s-commercial-aircraft-jet-engine-business.html), followed the company's October 8, 2026 FY2027 second quarter earnings conference call and presentation. Shore said Park's advanced composite materials are sole source qualified for engine nacelles, thrust reversers and other engine components on several key commercial aircraft jet engine programs, a set of programs the company calls its Commercial Aircraft Jet Engine \"Juggernaut.\"\n\n\"I am here to tell you and to go on record for you that any reports questioning the robustness of our Commercial Aircraft Jet Engine Juggernaut or suggesting that our Jet Engine Juggernaut is losing steam are wrong and incorrect,\" Shore said. \"Actually, the reality of the situation is quite the opposite.\"\n\nShore said the challenge will be to aggressively ramp up staffing and production at the company's Newton, Kansas facility to meet the requirements of the ramp-up. He said the company plans to meet that challenge, but that it will be very demanding and arduous for the organization until relief comes from its planned new Tulsa, Oklahoma plant.\n\n## Park Aerospace's Expansion Investment\n\nAccording to [akta.pro company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Park Aerospace announced in January 2026 a $50 million investment to build a new 120,000-square-foot Midwest manufacturing plant expected to nearly double composite materials production capacity by 2028 and target $200 million in annual sales by fiscal 2031. The same records show full fiscal year 2026 net sales of $73.3 million, an 18.2% year-over-year increase from $62.0 million in fiscal 2025, and Q4 fiscal 2026 net sales of $24.2 million, up 43% from $16.9 million in the prior year quarter. Net earnings for fiscal year 2026 were $11.3 million, nearly tripled from $5.9 million in fiscal 2025.\n\n## Earlier Leadership and Operations Moves\n\nPark Aerospace appointed Dhivakar J. Kumar as Vice President of Operations and Product Development in September 2026, according to Stock Titan. Kumar joined the company in 2012 and previously held roles including Materials and Process Engineer and Director of Product Development. In August 2026, the company announced the election of Constantine (\"Gus\") Petropoulos as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, according to The Manila Times.\n\n## Tulsa Plant Timeline\n\nShore said relief from the staffing and production demands at the Newton, Kansas facility is expected from the company's planned new Tulsa, Oklahoma plant. The company has not stated a completion date for that facility.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}