On Sept. 18, 2013, the unmanned Cygnus cargo spacecraft was launched into orbit for the first time. Shortly thereafter, it reached and docked with the International Space Station (ISS).
LAFAYETTE, IN—GE Aviation has started the initial hiring of employees for the $100 million jet engine assembly plant under construction here. The factory will employ more than 200 workers within five years.
ST. LOUIS—Boeing has commenced construction of a new 367,000-square-foot composites manufacturing facility, which will build parts for the new 777X. The facility is expected to employ 700.
CHICAGO—Zodiac Aerospace is struggling to meet demand for luxury seats for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, putting the aerospace giant at risk of missing its 2014 delivery target.
MOBILE, AL—Although hiring won’t take place until early 2015, Airbus has posted its latest batch of hourly positions for its A320 assembly plant under construction here.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI—Alcoa Inc. says it has solved one of the biggest wrinkles automakers wrestle with when stamping aluminum body panels: formability. The company has developed a new manufacturing process that produces aluminum sheet that is 40 percent more formable than current aluminum alloys.
SEATTLE—Lean manufacturing has enabled Boeing to make dramatic improvements in efficiency. Assembly time for the 777 jetliner has been reduced from 71 days to 37. Assembly time for the 737 jetliner has been cut from 20 days to 11.
SMITHFIELD, PA—Boeing will expand its factory here, where the company makes complex electronic assemblies. Boeing expects to add 168 new jobs over the next three years, doubling the facility’s workforce.
NEW YORK CITY—Alcoa Inc. is researching how they can best incorporate 3D printing technology into its business as the third largest producer of aluminum in the world. Alcoa’s chief technology officer, Ray Kilmer, says that the aluminum maker is attempting to use 3D printing to produce jet engine parts, among other things.