Smiths Aerospace hopes to double its engine components manufacturing capacity in North Carolina in the next five years as it prepares to open a new facility at West Jefferson near its existing site in Asheville, writes Helen Massy-Beresford.
The company is investing $44 million in the facility, including purchasing the site, installing equipment and funding “several years of growth”, says Dale Collins, general manager, Smiths Aerospace Components, Asheville & West Jefferson.
The company expects to employ about 100 staff at the new site in its initial phase, using just under half of the 2,600m2 (28,000ft2) facility. The workforce could grow to as many as 300 – putting it on a level with the existing Asheville site – within five years.
Smiths is currently finalising the purchase of the site and hopes to begin installing equipment and recruiting and training staff this month, with work beginning in December and the first output scheduled for February next year.
Source: Flight International