GE Aviation selects Auburn, AL for high volume additive manufacturing facility

GE Aviation announced plans to bring high volume additive manufacturing to its facility in Auburn, AL. This facility will be the first of its kind to mass produce additive components for the jet propulsion industry. GE will invest $50m in the existing 300,000-ft² facility to prepare for the additional work. Upon completion, GE investment will total more than $125m since 2011.Equipment installation will begin in late 2014 and production of additive components will begin in 2015. By the end of 2015, the plant could have as many as 10 printing machines with the potential to grow to more than 50 printers and occupy a third of the facility at full capacity. The facility will also continue to manufacture precision, super-alloy machined parts for jet engines.