Novel Aero is a Wallingford-based aerospace manufacturer that produces precision gaskets and seals for advanced engine applications.
The company serves military, commercial and industrial customers, supplying components designed to meet strict aerospace standards. It focuses on quality, technical expertise and continuous improvement, and works with major aerospace and defense contractors.
How did you get into this business?
I entered the aerospace manufacturing space nearly 20 years ago, fascinated by its complexity, precision and global impact. Through hands-on roles, I developed a deep passion for engineering excellence and continuous improvement. That journey led me to acquire Corru-Seals, now Novel Aero, with like-minded, accomplished partners and mentors.
Over the past year, we’ve focused on strengthening the foundation of this long-standing company to secure its future.
How has your business grown in the past year?
In 2025, Novel Aero grew roughly 20% in revenue, continuing our strong year-over-year performance. A major highlight of this growth has been our workforce expansion, increasing our team from 12 to 20 dedicated professionals. This includes the strategic addition of three engineers, significantly strengthening our technical depth.
We’ve also made major progress in our continuous improvement journey, refining processes and building a capable team. These advancements, combined with the dedication of our existing workforce, have elevated our technical capabilities and positioned us for long-term success in supporting aerospace and defense customers.
What’s a major challenge your business has overcome in the past year?
Although our quality systems were strong, our engineering function needed rebuilding after years of relying on a former parent company. Over the past year, we have developed a new engineering team with the right balance by pairing entry-level engineers with seasoned experts.
This approach has transformed us from having limited internal engineering capability to establishing a disciplined, process-driven technical organization. It reflects our belief that innovation requires strong critical thinking for rigorous problem-solving, and a culture committed to continuous improvement.
