ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — GE Aerospace announced in a March 12 news release that it plans to invest nearly $1 billion in its U.S. factories, including the ones in Asheville and Greenville, South Carolina.

The company said its making the investment to strengthen manufacturing and increase the use of innovative new parts and materials needed for the future of flight, the release said.

“Asheville and North Carolina continue our tradition of leading in aviation innovation. This significant investment represents our commitment to this community and its workforce,” said Ryan James and Seth Sanert, site leaders for GE Aerospace Asheville, in a joint statement in the release.

Asheville plays a key role in producing parts needed for the ramp-up of LEAP engines used on narrowbody aircraft, along with parts in widebody aircraft and military fighter jets, helicopters and ships, the release said.

According to the announcement, this new investment is nearly double last year’s commitment and will help increase engine safety, quality, and delivery, benefitting more than two dozen communities across 16 states. The company also announced it will hire around 5,000 U.S. workers this year, including both manufacturing and engineering roles.

For Greenville, it is increasing its workforce by 25%, the release said. The $23 million investment will go toward new high-precision machines to increase capacity, inspection equipment to maintain quality and specialized tooling to support the ramp-up of components in narrowbody aircraft engines.

“This investment couldn’t come at a better time as we are taking necessary and important steps to meet the strong demand for jet engines. To achieve that, we’re also increasing our workforce by 25% in the first-half of the year. This will keep U.S. manufacturing and the Greenville area competitive,” Chris Ubillus, the site leader for GE Aerospace Greenville, said in the release.

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Engines made by GE Aerospace and its joint venture partners power three out of every four commercial flights around the world and two of three U.S. military combat and helicopter aircraft.

“Investing in manufacturing and innovation is more critical than ever for the future of our industry and the communities where we operate,” said H. Lawrence Culp Jr., Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace, in the release. “We are committed to helping our customers modernize and expand their fleets while scaling technologies that will truly define the future of flight. Together, this will keep the United States at the forefront of aerospace leadership.”

The $20 million being invested in the Asheville facility will provide additional equipment to produce ceramic matrix composite engine parts, new inspection equipment and advanced machines that can shape metal parts to precise specifications, the release said.

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The company’s investments are also scaling the production of innovative parts made from new materials and advanced manufacturing processes that provide engines with more range, power and efficiency. This includes additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, which reduces part count, increasing fuel efficiency and durability while providing greater design freedom as well as ceramic matrix composites (CMCs).

CMCs are one-third the weight of traditional materials but can operate at up to 500 degrees hotter, meaning greater power and durability for engines.

Below is a breakdown of the other investments:

• $51 million in Auburn, Alabama: Additional 3D printers, upgrades to existing equipment and tooling to increase capacity and ensure quality.
• $14 million in West Chester, Ohio: Additional 3D printer, industrial furnace, and upgrades to facility to increase capacity.
• $22 million in Huntsville, Alabama: Additional machines to produce materials that are the building blocks for ceramic matrix composite engine parts.
• $11 million in Batesville, Mississippi: Industrial oven, precision measuring tools, high-precision machines, and inspection technology to maintain quality.
• $100-plus million for external supplier base

The almost $1 billion investment includes more than $100 million dedicated to the company’s external supplier base, providing investments to ensure suppliers are using the newest tools to produce parts, further reducing defects and supply chain constraints.