From an exploration rover on Mars to a submarine deep in the ocean, AirBorn Inc. makes products that are operating in electronic systems in a variety of places.

Headquartered in Georgetown at 3500 AirBorn Circle, the company manufactures electronic components for the aerospace, avionics, defense, energy, medical and automotive markets.

In January, AirBorn expanded its medical field and commercial production offerings by acquiring AESCO Electronics, a company with divisions in Ohio and Massachusetts. With the recent acquisition, Clint Barton, vice president of governmental affairs, said AirBorn not only increased its employee base by 30 percent, but it also diversified its services.

"We're just continuing to add more services and more things we can do for our customers," he said.

The electronic interconnect products AirBorn makes join electrical circuits together.

"It's a connector," said Michael Cuff, senior vice president and chief technology officer. "Basically like the plug-in socket in the wall. Only these are quite sophisticated, if you will. They go in aircraft, missiles."

The company also offers electronic components including cable assemblies, flexible circuit assemblies, custom power supplies and other solutions for its customers around the world.

"We actually create solutions for whatever the customer needs, rather than [say] 'Here's our catalog—find something in it.' So ours are very much engineered solutions," Barton said.

AirBorn's roots in Georgetown date back to 1971, when it acquired two companies in the city, but it was not until 1984 that the AirBorn name was officially adopted, Cuff said.

Previously located at 215 Royal Drive, AirBorn opened a new facility in April 2010. The company employs 368 people, making AirBorn the largest manufacturing employer in Georgetown, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce President Mel Pendland said.

The facility has an engineering department where new products are designed, administrative offices, a test lab, stock room and a manufacturing area.

More than 250 people work to assemble and manufacture the products in the Georgetown building.

In the test lab, AirBorn staff members place the products in machines so they can be tested at different temperatures, humidity levels, vibration levels and altitudes. Many of the products will end up in places where it is critical that they function properly.

"You've got to think about it from the point of view of a satellite," Cuff said. "If they don't work, you can't send somebody up there to repair it."

AirBorn products are in the electric systems inside heart catheter monitors, space shuttles, oil and gas drills, missile defense systems, commercial airline cockpit controls and submarine sonar systems.

"It's mainly where it has to operate all the time, every time," Barton said.

He said the company is vertically integrated, meaning that everything that goes into their products can be made within the company.

"That gives us an advantage on being able to turn over prototypes and new products quickly," he said.