WASHINGTON—U.S. factories expanded last month at the fastest pace since June 2011. The Institute for Supply Management said Tuesday that its manufacturing index rose to 55.7 in August from 55.4 in July. That topped the index’s 12-month average of 52.
WARRENDALE, PA—A new book from SAE International examines how to automate the process of drilling and countersinking holes during airframes production.
MOBILE, AL—A bond issue totaling $260 million has been secured to help fund construction of Airbus’ assembly plant here. The bond will be repaid by lease payments from the A320 final assembly line already under construction.
MOBILE, AL—Airbus is advertising two new professional positions for its assembly plant under construction here. Specifically, the company is looking for an avionics installation station coordinator and a mechanical installation station coordinator.
CAMBRIDGE, MA—MIT researchers have developed a lightweight structure whose tiny blocks can be snapped together much like the bricks of a child’s construction toy. The new material could revolutionize the assembly of airplanes, spacecraft, and even larger structures, such as dikes and levees.
SEATTLE—At a secret facility in Anacortes, WA, a small group of Boeing engineers will begin testing advanced automation methods for building the soon-to-be-launched 777X jet. The project promises to dramatically change how the plane’s metal hull is built.
JACKSONVILLE, FL—Aveo Engineering, which makes LED lighting for aircraft, is investing $7.5 million to build a new assembly plant in Flagler County, FL. The plant is expected to employ 300 people.
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