Wildwood Coating, Inc. has earned AMPP QP3 certification, becoming Michigan’s only coatings provider with the defense designation and securing its role in U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs.
Dollar Bay, MI — [February 23, 2026]— 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, MI. They are a manufacturer of heavy equipment and subassemblies 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, MI) to develop the documented procedures, audit readiness systems, and traceability protocols required for certification.
“The QP3 process demands a level of operational discipline comparable to prime defense suppliers,” said Greg Kangas at Hawk Technologies. “Wildwood demonstrated the commitment necessary to build repeatable systems that meet the Navy’s highest expectations.”
Wildwood’s success also reflects the strength of the Upper Peninsula’s emerging advanced manufacturing ecosystem. The company collaborates with regional engineering, software, and manufacturing firms including Great Lakes Sound and Vibration and Steelhead Technologies, illustrating how integrated supplier networks can support defense readiness even in geographically remote regions. In fact, Wildwood was Steelhead’s first customer as a beta-tester for their coatings industry leading ERP system. Wildwood’s metal coating capabilities are also used by several other regional manufacturers such as Superior Fishing Products.
For Wildwood President Isaiah Bekkala, the certification validates both the company’s technical capabilities and its workforce. “It gives me confidence in the parts we’re producing and the systems we’ve put in place,” Bekkala said. “We know our team is following procedures that ensure every component meets the expectations of our customers and the standards required for defense manufacturing.”
With QP3 certification secured, Wildwood anticipates workforce expansion, increased production volume, and deeper integration into naval and maritime supply chains. Regional leaders view the milestone as an example of how targeted technical assistance and ecosystem collaboration can translate into national-level manufacturing competitiveness.
“This achievement shows what is possible when local companies, technical partners, and economic-development programs align around a shared goal,” said David Rowe. “Wildwood’s success demonstrates that high-precision, defense-ready manufacturing can thrive in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — and that growth at one supplier can generate opportunity across an entire industrial network.”
About MTEC SmartZone
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) SmartZone is one of 21 SmartZone Incubators in the State of Michigan. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization directed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), their mission is to accelerate high-tech businesses growth in the region. Since 2003, MTEC SmartZone has provided mentoring, technical support, and other services to local companies that has led to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton/Hancock area. For more information, visit mtecsz.com, follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook, and email mtec@mtecsz.com.