At a trade show Tuesday, more than 100 businesses in the state – including two from Wilmington – will have the opportunity to pitch their goods and services to the second-largest customer of goods and services in North Carolina: the U.S. Department of Defense.
 
In a recent news release, the N.C. Military Business Center announced its 13th annual N.C. Defense and Economic Development Trade Show, the only such expo in the state, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Vendors are there by invitation only.
 
Wilmington will be represented by South-Tek Systems, a company that produces nitrogen generators for military, industrial and commercial customers; and Osprey Armament, which provides state-of-the-art armaments to U.S. government-related organizations, military organizations and the civilian market.
 
It’s the second consecutive year at the trade show for Wilmington’s South-Tek Systems.
 
“We had a really good time last year and got good responses from attendees,” said South-Tek’s vice president of sales Charles Metzler. Metzler spoke by phone Monday from the expo hall, where he was helping set up his company’s booth.
 
“I can’t say we got new business directly in response to our being at the show last year, but we made some new contacts and have some additional projects going as a result,” Metzler said.
 
“This year, we’re more familiar with the layout and everything here,” he continued. “It’s a great opportunity to reach out to our contacts at Fort Bragg and let them know we will have a booth. We have a couple of contracts we’re working on with Fort Bragg, and they are coming over to see our booth and our gear. There are also a couple of distributors who want to come by the booth. It’s very convenient to have this show up at Fort Bragg.”
 
Military organizations use nitrogen generated by South-Tek Systems’ equipment to prevent moisture in optical equipment such as range finders and night vision goggles. If these precision instruments fog up, the result is what Metzler terms the “raining effect.”
 
The N.C. Defense and Economic Development Trade Show resulted in nearly $5 million worth of prime contracts in North Carolina during fiscal year 2013, the news release stated.
 
In addition to opportunities for vendors to pitch their wares, Tuesday’s event includes displays and demonstrations of military equipment, networking opportunities and workshops. U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan will be present as co-hosts, according to the release.