GE Aviation expands in Pompano Beach, Florida

GE Aviation (NYSE: GE) today announced that it has expanded into a new facility in Pompano Beach, which includes a 30% increase in square footage and an R & D lab capable of advanced development of silicon carbide (SiC)-based power conversion products for air, land and sea-based platforms.

"This new facility enables us to continue work on GE-developed SiC technology, with the potential of reducing the weight on an aircraft by more than 400 lbs.," said Vic Bonneau, president of Electrical Power for GE Aviation Systems. "GE is committed to Florida and is investing approximately $20 million in program work and R&D related to our Pompano Beach facility over the next five years."

The 30,000 square foot facility is located at 2705 Gateway Drive in Pompano Beach. A new lab in the facility will provide increased capacity for developing, testing and manufacturing advanced electrical power conversion products used on civil and military platforms.

"This is a significant event for GE and for Pompano Beach," continued Bonneau. "Our workers here are helping to bring innovation from the research lab to the manufacturing floor, and that helps keep U.S. manufacturing competitive."

Space and weight are premiums on aircraft. Airlines are constantly trying to balance the need to create more passenger and storage space, while also meeting increased demand for electrical power on the plane. GE's SiC power devices will address this need on both fronts.

Bonneau said: "An important part of our strategy is to aggressively invest in the kinds of technologies that will solve large problems for our customers 10 year from now."

GE Aviation in Pompano Beach, FL was established in 1965 and is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of special application electronic power subsystems for military and other "high-end" applications. GE has 40 employees at the Pompano Beach facility who design and manufacture high-end military grade power supplies, including custom and standard power conversion and control products. GE currently has approximately 4,300 employees in Florida.