The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Greenville Area Development Corporation today joined GE Aviation in announcing its plans to expand its presence in Greenville, South Carolina, with a multi-million dollar investment and 100 additional jobs by 2013. The investment will fund the business' relocation from Garlington Road to a 150,000 square-foot building in the Matrix Industrial Park.
"Over the last five years, GE Aviation has outgrown the 50,000 square-foot building that we shared with GE Energy," said Jennifer Smith, plant leader of GE Aviation's Greenville, S.C. facility. "By moving to the larger building, we can continue to grow and meet our customers' needs."
The Greenville facility produces high pressure turbine (HPT) blades that are used in commercial aircraft engines produced by GE Aviation. The company plans on expanding the site's capabilities to include coating technologies. These expansion efforts will reduce the production time for turbine blades by 50 percent (from about 15 days to one week) and boost its production capacity.
"GE Aviation is a world-class leader in the aviation industry and a renowned manufacturer of engines for commercial and military aircraft. GE has a long history in South Carolina with investments in Florence, Charleston and Greenville; and their growth in our state is significant not only for the new high-tech jobs it will bring to Greenville, but also for its contribution to the aviation industry in South Carolina," said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
"GE Aviation's decision to grow its base of operations here in Greenville County is welcome news, and the result of a team effort involving participants at the local and state level," noted H.G. "Butch" Kirven Jr., chairman of Greenville County Council. "Their decision affirms that innovation and advanced manufacturing is alive and well in our state, will serve as a magnet for more talented individuals, and will add good paying jobs in this community."
"We're pleased that GE Aviation recognizes the many advantages that Greenville County offers their company for continued growth and success," said Mike Buiter, chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. "Their decision to expand is an important affirmation of this area's focus on developing our aviation and aerospace clusters. As an innovation-driven organization with blue-chip clients and global opportunities in multiple industries, GE Aviation is a prized member of the Upstate business community."
About 140 GE Aviation employees currently work at the Garlington Road facility. GE Energy will remain at the Garlington Road location. The relocation will start in November and is scheduled to be complete by early next year. As the business expands its HPT blade production, it will add about 100 new jobs at the Greenville site by 2013. The company expects to begin filling the positions for this expansion in 2010.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as avionics, electric power and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.