Construction of new Boeing facility takes off
Construction has begun on a multi-million pound manufacturing site in Sheffield which will produce 8,000 parts a year for the growing aviation industry.
Boeing is investing around £40m in locating the company’s first European manufacturing facility on Sheffield Business Park. Boeing Sheffield will form part of the company’s global network of commercial aeroplanes fabrication sites and will produce actuation components for the next-generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft.
The 6,200 sq metre facility will manufacture spur gears, shafts and housings from materials that are sourced in the UK, using many regional suppliers. In total, around 8,000 parts will be manufacturing a year and these components will be shipped to Boeing Portland for the next stage of the process before being fitted onto the aircrafts.
The site will open in late 2018, with approximately 30 employees on the first day of operations. There are 19 apprentices already assigned to the new site.
Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said: “For Boeing, this is a very big and important step. We have chosen to be here in Sheffield because there is more than enough availability of skills with the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre) nearby and it’s a fantastic place to be.
“There is real value in having a site near the AMRC and we are really excited to be here at the ground breaking ceremony.”
He added that the increased demand for air travel meant that 2.5 aircraft are currently being built globally a day. Boeing are manufacturing 52 737s a month and this will increase to 57 a month to meet the demand.
The AMRC was established in 2001 as a £15 million collaboration between the University of Sheffield and Boeing with the purpose of using Sheffield’s traditional expertise in materials and machining, and applying those skills for future technological development.
Groundbreaking ceremony at Boeing Sheffield
At the groundbreaking ceremony was Sir Michael Arthur, along with James Needham, operations manager, Boeing Sheffield, Adrian Allen OBE, executive director of AMRC and Professor Keith Ridgway, founder and executive chair, AMRC
