NEWARK, Del. — GE Aviation will add up to 70 jobs at its Newark facility over the next five years with the addition of a $27 million ‘lean lab.’ GE already employs 80 people at the plant working on advanced aircraft engine components made of ceramic matrix composites.
Lean labs are designed to promote intense collaboration between engineering and manufacturing teams before full-on manufacturing gets underway. The idea is to test and refine a particular component’s manufacturing readiness to promote efficiency and prevent waste.
“Lean labs are the height of innovation in high-tech manufacturing,” U.S. Senator Chris Coons said. “GE’s decision to develop a lean lab in Newark adds another chapter to Delaware’s long and rich manufacturing history, and by nearly doubling its presence here, GE Aviation is showing its faith in Delaware’s talented workforce. It’s a smart investment that I’m confident will pay off.”
The ceramic matrix composite components developed in GE Aviation’s Newark facility are used in GE’s next-generation LEAP aircraft engines. They allow the engines to run hotter than the standard, resulting in higher fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and improved environmental performance. The LEAP engine will enter service in 2016 in the new Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and COMAC C919 aircraft.
GE Aviation’s GE9X engine, which will be used by Boeing for its 777X aircraft program, is also expected to feature several ceramic-matrix component products.
“This investment is a testament to GE’s commitment to this advanced technology. The Newark team will play a vital role in the next-generation of aircraft engines, and we’re proud to be a part of it” said Jeff Wessels, plant leader at Newark.