GE Aviation, a leading global producer of jet engines of all size for both aviation and marine applications, has acquired Morris Technologies and its sister company Rapid Quality Manufacturing. These two Cincinnati-based companies are specialised in additive manufacturing (AM), hence they bring new production capabilities to the GE Aviation portfolio for producing their jet engines.
VP and GM of GE Aviation’s Supply Chain Division, Colleen Athans, explains this strategical move as something that supports the company’s vision of being ahead of the traditional curve when it comes to new tech: “Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing are parts of our investment in emerging manufacturing technologies. Our ability to develop state-of-the-art manufacturing processes for emerging materials and complex design geometry is critical to our future. We are so fortunate to have Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing just minutes from our headquarters. We know them well”.
At a more concrete level this acquisition gives GE Aviation a clear competitive advantage and also shows the win-win opportunities that additive manufacturing can bring to aerospace applications – by creating parts that are not only lighter than conventionally forged parts, but also creating less scrap material in the process.
Besides providing a new home for approximately 130 Cincinnati employess, GE aviation is also enjoying growth in other sectors – they have announced plans to open two new production plants in the US in 2013.
Source: Bloomberg
