KINSTON, N.C., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spirit
AeroSystems, Inc., (NYSE: SPR) the world's largest independent
supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components, today
formally opened its new 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility
in Kinston, N.C. The ceremony was
hosted by Spirit President and CEO Jeff
Turner, and Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders. Other special guests included
Governor Beverly Perdue, along with
numerous community partners from around the region and state.
Employees at the facility will design and manufacture the
composite center fuselage upper and lower shells (Section 15) and
front wing spar for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft using
state-of-the-art technology and processes. Design work has been
underway for approximately two years, and the manufacturing process
will begin immediately.
"We are proud of what Spirit has achieved over the last two
years and honoured to have been invited to Kinston to witness the opening of this
high-tech facility. Here at the Kinston plant an important part of our all new
A350 XWB will be manufactured," said Tom
Enders, Airbus president and CEO. "Our cooperation with
Spirit is an example of how Airbus is growing its partnerships in
the United States, both supporting
jobs and contributing to the American economy," he added.
"The Kinston community has been
more than welcoming to Spirit," said Dan
Wheeler, vice president/general manager, North Carolina
Business Unit. "From the announcement and groundbreaking in 2008,
to the occupancy ceremony in April, to the grand opening today,
it's been a challenging yet rewarding experience for everyone
involved. We can't wait to begin producing quality components for
Airbus at this site."
"We've been anticipating this day for quite some time," said
Jeff Turner, Spirit president and
CEO. "I'm proud of our team for many reasons, including staying
on-track with the development of this facility as well as reaching
critical milestones for this program. The innovative design/build
process we've created will undoubtedly bring value to our
customer."
At a ceremony in April, the training center at the Global
TransPark was re-named the Spirit AeroSystems Composite Center
of Excellence. Spirit is working in partnership with
Lenoir Community College to create
curriculum and training for potential employees at the center.
Initial employment is on track to exceed 200 by the end of the
year, and will grow to about 700 over the next few years on the
Airbus work statement alone. Reaching the total employment goal of
1,000 will require placing additional work at this site.
Spirit won a contract with Airbus in May
2008 to design and produce the A350 XWB's composite fuselage
structure, known as Section 15, which will be approximately 65 feet
long, 20 feet wide and weigh nearly 9,000 pounds. The company also
will produce the front spar for the aircraft's wings at the
Kinston plant. The spar is a wing
structure made of nearly 100 percent composite material, weighs
more than 2,000 pounds, and measures approximately 105 feet
long.
Fuselage components designed and manufactured in North Carolina will be shipped across the
Atlantic, received at Spirit's new facility in Saint-Nazaire,
France, and assembled before being
transported to Airbus as "Section 15." The front spar will be
shipped to Spirit's UK operations in Prestwick, Scotland, for integration into the wing
leading edges before being shipped to Airbus for final
assembly.
On the web: http://www.spiritaero.com
About Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
Based in Wichita, Kan.,
Spirit AeroSystems is the world's largest independent supplier of
commercial airplane assemblies and components. In addition to its
Kansas facility, Spirit has
locations in Tulsa and
McAlester, Okla.; Kinston, N.C.; Prestwick, Scotland; Samlesbury, England; Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia; and is developing a new manufacturing
facility in Saint-Nazaire, France.
In the U.S., Spirit's core products include fuselages, pylons,
nacelles and wing components. Additionally, Spirit provides
aftermarket customer support services, including spare parts,
maintenance/repair/overhaul, and fleet support services in
North America, Europe and Asia. Spirit Europe produces wing components for a host of
customers, including Airbus.
This press release contains forward-looking statements
concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may vary
materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to future levels of
business in the aerospace and commercial transport industries or in
the number of aircraft to be built; the success and timely
progression of our customers' new programs; challenges in the
design, development, production and support of advanced
technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including
but not limited to those detailed in Spirit AeroSystems Holdings,
Inc. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems