GE Aviation pursuing advanced manufacturing in North Carolina

GE Aviation has plans to break ground this year on an advanced composite component factory near Asheville in Western North Carolina. The new 125,000-ft² facility (next to an existing GE Aviation machining plant) would produce engine components made of advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials. GE could begin hiring at the new CMC components plant as early as 2014. Within five years, the workforce at the plant would be expected to grow to more than 340 people. The new facility would be part of a larger commitment by GE Aviation to invest $195m across its North Carolina operations through 2017. GE Aviation has more than 1,300 employees in North Carolina at sites in Durham, West Jefferson, Wilmington, and Asheville. Overall, the new CMC facility, combined with plant and equipment upgrades at existing sites across North Carolina, could create 240 additional GE jobs by 2017. The workforce (290 employees) at GE Aviation’s current machining operation in Asheville would gradually transition to the CMC components plant. Over the next decade, the current machining work at the Asheville shop could be transitioned to other GE facilities. THe new CMC factory in Asheville – which would be unique in the jet propulsion industry – is subject to final approvals of incentives from the State of North Carolina.