GE Aviation has started construction on two adjacent factories to mass-produce Silicon Carbide (SiC) materials in Huntsville, Alabama.

 
Estimated to cost more than $200M, the two factories will be constructed on a 100-acre site.

One of the plants will produce silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic fibre, while the second will use this SiC ceramic fibre to produce the unidirectional CMC tape necessary to fabricate CMC components.


GE Aviation’s vice president Sanjay Correa, who leads the industrialization of advanced technologies, said: "GE Aviation is creating a fully integrated supply chain for producing CMC components in large volume, which is unique to the United States.

"The new factories in Alabama are vital to this strategy. We are deeply gratified by the tremendous local, state, and national support for this effort."

Construction work is expected to be complete by the first half of 2018, with production set to commence on that same year. Once fully operational, the plants are anticipated to employ up to 300 people.

* Data provided by Timetric's Construction Intelligence Center.