13. There is an aerospace factory in College Point
College Point houses an aerospace factory called S&L Aerospace Metals, which manufactures materials for companies like Boeing, Raytheon, and Helicopter Support. Founded in 1945 as a Brooklyn bicycle shop, the company shifted over the years to hydraulics for both commercial and military aircraft parts. All of S&L’s operations are conducted inside the facility and are mostly human-operated, including everything from masking to grinding. According to the company, employees supply “hard-metal, fracture-critical structural parts, components, sub-assemblies, assembly kits, and assemblies for the commercial, military, regional jets, business jet and helicopter segments.”
Many of the company’s employees are local, and S&L made the decision to stay in New York for their employees despite offers for bigger facilities in states such as New Jersey. The company recently expanded by over 100,000 square feet, allowing it to continue operations for leading aerospace clients nationwide.