Boeing has announced that it will be ploughing investment in to sites in the UK and the US as part of a global growth plan.
The aircraft giant has announced that it will be opening a new facility in Sheffield to manufacture components for its next generation of vehicles. Boeing will also be producing new parts in its facility in Portland, Oregon.
The new facility is the result of more than £20m worth of investment by the company and is a move to begin in-house manufacturing of components and systems in the US and UK.
Related articles
Financial R&D support top priority for UK manufacturing
Liberty House unveil £10m auto centre of excellence
SMEs set to recruit over 200,000 apprentices
The new site in the UK will be named Boeing Sheffield and will produce actuators in Boeing’s first manufacturing facility in Europe. Subject to local authorities and planning permissions, the new facility will be 2,300sq m and will be built next to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the University of Sheffield.
When it opens, the Boeing Sheffield facility will employ around 30 people and work closely with Boeing Portland, a company Centre of Excellence for complex machining, gear systems and flight controls.
Professor Keith Ridgeway CBE, executive dean of the AMRC said, “this announcement is the culmination of a successful relationship that has developed since the AMRC was founded and reinforces that our region is a leading location for high-value advanced manufacturing.
“We look forward to supporting Boeing and continuing to ensure that U.K. manufacturers remain competitive, through access to our expertise here at the AMRC.”
The aerospace giant is looking to recruit further at the start of 2018 and capitalise on the firm’s new location in Sheffield by tapping in to the local knowledge base and workforce.
“Boeing Sheffield is an investment in manufacturing that will benefit our customers by driving improvements in quality and efficiency,” said Jenette Ramos, vice president and general manager of Boeing Fabrication. “The expanded fabrication capability will grow our existing operations and strengthen our global services.”
Sir Michael Arthur, President of Boeing Europe and Managing Director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said, “the UK provides Boeing with the talent and infrastructure we need to grow and maintain a high level of productivity and quality to meet our significant order book.
“We are proud to expand our relationship with the UK still further with Boeing Sheffield. Our decision to start manufacturing high-value components in the UK is a step-change in our engagement and a further example of Boeing’s commitment to grow here, supporting the UK’s long-term prosperity.”
