Aerospace Assembly

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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL—Northrop Grumman Corp. is investing more than $100 million in a new Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence here. The facility will eventually employ 400.

BERLIN—Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation have developed a mobile robot that can move along with aerospace workers and assist them as they assemble and test parts.

SEATTLE—The 8,000th Boeing 737 rolled off the assembly line here yesterday, a milestone for the best-selling airplane of all time.

MOBILE, AL—One year after the ground breaking ceremony for Airbus’ first U.S. assembly plant, the assembly line is making good progress. The main buildings are taking shape, and the first employees have started their on-the-job training in Hamburg, Germany.

MAIDEN, NC—GKN Driveline will spend at least $113.8 million to expand its assembly plant here, adding 228 jobs within four years.

EVERETT, WA—Boeing plans to deploy robotic assembly technology on the 777X that will dramatically change how the plane’s metal hull is built. The investment will enable Boeing to increase the production rate of the 777 beyond the current 100 jets per year.

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.

MOBILE, AL—Airbus Americas has awarded the paint shop contract for its A320 final assembly line under construction at Mobile Aeroplex to MAAS Aviation Aircraft Services.

BROUSSARD, LA—Bell Helicopter has opened a new composites manufacturing facility here. The $4.5 million, 28,000-square-foot plant will employ 30.

Metal blades are typically used to strip insulation from wire or cable. However, there is an alternative—lasers.