By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday, October 27, Governor Robert Bentley (R) announced that GE Aviation would be building two new factories in Huntsville that will employ up to 300 people in coming years.
Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said in a statement, “Today’s announcement of GE Aviation’s $200 million investment in North Alabama is fantastic news for our district, and will bolster our pivotal role in the development of GE Aviation’s world-class engines and the future of aerospace engineering. This important strategic move will bring as many as 300 jobs and long-term economic growth that will benefit Alabama for decades to come. We are grateful for this commitment to Madison and Limestone Counties, and the additional growth it will inspire across the State.”
The Silicon Carbide Ceramic Fiber Plant is the first in the US Gov. Bentley announced that GE Aviation is investing more than $200 million to create adjacent factories in Huntsville to mass-produce silicon carbide (SiC) materials used to manufacture ceramic matrix composite components (CMCs) for jet engines and land-based gas turbines.
Gov. Bentley said in his own statement, “We are honored that GE Aviation has chosen Huntsville for an advanced technology manufacturing operation to produce silicon carbide materials for commercial and military engines. Today’s announcement is important because Alabam
a is expanding our partnership with a global aviation leader. We have prioritized advanced manufacturing in aerospace and aviation, and I appreciate the investment by GE Aviation in this new Huntsville operation.”
US Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) said, “GE Aviation’s decision to open two adjacent factories in Huntsville is great news for the region and our State. This announcement is a testament to the exceptional workforce in Huntsville and highlights that Alabama is open for business. I look forward to the jobs and economic growth that this investment will bring to Huntsville.”
GE Aviation Vice President Sanjay Correa said, “Establishing the new GE factories in Alabama is a very significant step in developing the supply chain we need in order to produce CMC components in large volume.”
State Senator Bill Holtzclaw (R-Madison) said, “Welcome to Huntsville, Madison and Limestone Countries – General Electric Aviation to build factory in Limestone Co. $200M AND 300 Jobs.”
One factory will produce silicon carbide ceramic fiber. There is only one factory in the world doing that presently on a large scale: in Japan operated by NGS Advanced Fibers, which is a joint company of Nippon Carbon, GE, and Safran of France. The adjacent GE factory will use the SiC ceramic fiber to produce the unidirectional CMC tape necessary to fabricate CMC components.
Construction of the two plants will begin in the middle of next year. Production begins in 2018. GE has already begun hiring the technical team that will transfer to the Huntsville operation. GE expects to begin hiring the hourly workforce in late 2016.
GE Aviation has also invested more than $100 million in a 300,000-square-foot factory in Auburn where the company is engaged in jet engine component manufacturing (super-alloy machined parts) as well as establishing the world’s highest-volume additive manufacturing center. The Auburn plant has been installing and qualifying additive manufacturing capability, including more than a dozen laser melting machines. Fuel nozzles will be the first components to be built using additive processes for the best-selling LEAP engine by CFM International. It marks the first time such a complex component will be manufactured using additive technology.
Gov. Bentley said on Twitter, “There will be no greater partner with @GEAviation than the Alabama employees hired. They will make sure this investment is a success.”
