GE Aviation opens new Brilliant Factory

GE Aviation reported the grand opening of its US$14.5m Brilliant Factory in Muskegon – an investment that will stimulate economic growth in the region and where GE is using data and analytics to run its plants more efficiently. The new 35,000-ft² facility will manufacture parts for the GE90 engine and will perform development work for new programs as needed. The GE90 on the Boeing 777 is one of the world’s most powerful jet engines with about 2,500 engines in service and more than 67 million flight hours. The new facility expands GE Aviation’s foot print in Muskegon to about 220,000-ft² total including three buildings (the new facility in Norton Shores, along with existing manufacturing in Norton Shores and Muskegon). GE has already hired nearly 90 new employees toward a goal of 100 at this advanced manufacturing facility, bringing the total to almost 800 employees across the three buildings. GE announced plans to expand in Muskegon in 2016. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation encouraged this expansion by providing a grant to GE for US$800,000. The City of Norton Shores also provided a 50% property tax abatement to GE for a 12-year period.