ASHEVILLE, NC—GE Aviation’s assembly plant here is the first in the world to make jet engine parts with new materials, called ceramic matrix composites, that will revolutionize flight in the years ahead.
MORAINE, OH—DMAX Ltd. will invest $60 million to redesign its diesel engines so they meet future emissions requirements. The investment retains approximately 500 jobs at the joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu.
Some manufacturers do more than just practice lean manufacturing. They help other manufacturers achieve it. A good example is Hamilton Caster & Manufacturing Co., which recently helped Cummins Inc. improve lean practices at one of its engine manufacturing plants in South Carolina.
TONAWANDA, NY—General Motors is using smart bolts equipped with RFID tags to build its new line of Gen 5 six- and eight-cylinder engines. Each bolt can store 5 kilobytes of data.
NISKAYUNA, NY—Siemens company is developing the 3D technology at its research facility here and will use it to produce fuel nozzles and other engine parts starting in 2016.
BERLIN—BMW is considering assembling engines in North America for the first time and expanding vehicle production in the region to capitalize on growing demand.
LONGUEUIL, QC—Pratt & Whitney Canada will invest $275 million during the next five years to build a new facility here to make complex components for jet engines.
HARTFORD, CT—In the opening salvo of contract talks, Pratt & Whitney management is asking the Machinist union to give up 252 jobs at its East Hartford, CT, and Middletown, CT, plants, clearing the way for the company to bring in outside contractors for material handling work.