DOLLAR BAY — Defense manufacturing supplier Wildwood Coating, Inc., has achieved AMPP QP3 certification, positioning the company to perform specialized coating work supporting U.S. Navy aircraft manufacturing construction programs, including the CVN-80 and CVN-81 vessels.

The certification makes Wildwood the only coatings provider in Michigan currently holding the QP3 designation, elevating the firm into a select national network of defense-qualified industrial coating contractors.

QP3 accreditation is widely recognized across defense and maritime manufacturing as a benchmark for process control, documentation rigor, material traceability, environmental compliance and repeatable quality outcomes. For Wildwood, the designation transforms the company from a regional industrial supplier into a validated participant in critical naval supply chains.

“This certification represents a major step forward not just for Wildwood, but for the entire regional manufacturing base that supports defense production,” said MTEC SmartZone CEO David Rowe. “By helping a local advanced-materials firm meet national defense standards, we are strengthening Michigan’s ability to compete for high-value federal manufacturing contracts and expanding opportunities for suppliers throughout the region.”

Wildwood’s certification follows nearly two years of coating work supporting Trident Maritime Systems – Heavy Equipment Group, headquartered in Kingsford. They are a manufacturer of heavy equipment and sub assemblies used in U.S. Navy shipbuilding. As production demands and compliance requirements increased, QP3 certification became necessary for Wildwood to maintain and expand its role in naval manufacturing programs expected to generate several million dollars in new business over the next five years. With it will come 10 to 12 new jobs at the company.

Achieving the designation required a $250,000 investment by the company in facility controls, spray booth performance, air handling systems, quality documentation and compliance procedures. Support for the QP3 certification effort came through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Small Business Support Hubs initiative, delivered regionally by MTEC SmartZone. Through this program, Wildwood engaged Hawk Technologies (Hancock) to develop the documented procedures, audit readiness systems and traceability protocols required for certification.