GE Aerospace is to invest more than € 78 million in its manufacturing sites across Europe this year, creating more than 500 jobs.
The investment aims to increase overall capacity, expand key facilities, and ensure quality for both commercial and defense customers. It will also fund the production ramp up of components made from new materials and the use of innovative manufacturing processes to enhance the range, power, durability and efficiency of aircraft engines.
Riccardo Procacci, president and CEO of propulsion and additive technologies at GE Aerospace said, “This investment will ensure that we continue to meet the evolving needs of the aerospace industry in Europe. It is also evidence of our strong commitment to supporting the communities and economies where we operate.”
A significant portion of the investment will be allocated toward additional engine test cells and new equipment, including AI-enabled inspection techniques.
The enhancements will support the production of components for both narrow- and widebody aircraft engines, as well as military fighter jet and helicopter engines.
Investments are being made in five European countries:
- Italy: €55.6 million: new test cells and new capabilities for current ones, additional equipment to support ramp and continuity, inspection technology, new tooling and structure across several sites that produce aircraft engines, along with engines for military fighter jets and helicopters.
- Poland: €11.6 million: additional machines, equipment and structures, upgrades to building and utilities to support the production of components used in aircraft engines, along with military rotorcraft engines, across multiple sites.
- Czech Republic: €5.4 million: new machines, equipment, tooling and upgrades to building utilities in support of producing components used in turboprop engines.
- UK: €3.3 million: additional machines and production set-ups needed for new component manufacturing, along with equipment to service propeller systems.
- Romania: €2.3 million: new machine used to create precise complex shapes from metal, additional machines, more tooling, and upgrades to the building’s utilities.
Last year GE Aerospace made a €64 million investment in manufacturing and a €122 million investment in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and component repair facilities in Europe.
The company also supports various apprenticeship programs throughout Europe and last year expanded its Next Engineers program to Poland.