To maintain and grow its production levels on its newest jet engines, engine components and aircraft systems, GE Aviation investments reached $4.3 billion in its U.S. operations during 2011–2016, with another $1.1 billion invested in its international sites, the company reports.
That U.S. amount includes $214 million to establish five new plants in Auburn, Ala.; Asheville, N.C.; Ellisville, Miss.; Huntsville, Ala.; and Lafayette, Ind. About 2 million sq. ft. of new manufacturing floor space is being created.
In addition, upgrades at current U.S. operations include expansions in West Jefferson, N.C.; and Hooksett, N.H.; and new centers for emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing, digital engine monitoring, ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and electrical distribution.
“The first company to introduce heat-resistant, lightweight CMC components into the hot section of commercial jet engines, GE Aviation is creating America’s first fully-integrated supply chain to mass produce components from this advanced material,” the company stated: “From a CMC raw materials plant in Huntsville to CMC manufacturing research labs in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Newark, Delaware; to full-scale CMC production in Asheville.”
The announcement also noted the company’s Additive Development Center in Cincinnati and a component production operation in Auburn, “where more than 40 additive machines are mass producing commercial and military engine components.”
The entire news release is here.
Related Glossary Terms
- centers
centers
Cone-shaped pins that support a workpiece by one or two ends during machining. The centers fit into holes drilled in the workpiece ends. Centers that turn with the workpiece are called “live” centers; those that do not are called “dead” centers.
- composites
composites
Materials composed of different elements, with one element normally embedded in another, held together by a compatible binder.
Author
Michael Anderson, former senior editor at Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, holds a master's degree in written communication from Eastern Michigan University. He has been professionally writing about manufacturing technology since 1998, including more than 10 years at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
