Aerospace giant Boeing has announced plans to expand its Montana factory by nearly 50% to meet demand for commercial planes and new work for the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.
Construction will begin this Autumn on the south side of the existing Helena, Montana facility, with completion estimated for the end of 2014.
Boeing also said it expects the expansion and increased work to add 20-25 people to the existing on-site 144-person workforce.
After confirming the plan at the Montana Jobs Summit, Boeing chairman, president and CEO Jim McNerney said the investment will strengthen the Montana facility’s status as a key supplier.
“Our further investment in Montana is testament to our Helena team’s ability to deliver on their commitments and establish themselves as a reliable, globally competitive supplier to our commercial airplane programs,” he said.
The near $35 million expansion will add more than 55,000 square feet of manufacturing space, bringing the Boeing Helena facility to 167,099 square feet, and the site’s director and leader Eric Smith said the new investment will stabilise all its areas.
“This expansion ensures we have the stable workforce, skills and now the manufacturing space we need to support production requirements and take on new production for the 787-10,” he said.
