GE Aviation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), today announced the opening of the new systems manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China. Ms. Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO for GE Aviation Systems formally opened the facility at the event where senior representatives of the Government of Suzhou, China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) and additional senior government and customer officials were present.

"Our Suzhou facility brings state-of-the-art systems manufacturing to the Jiang Su province and its people," said Lorraine Bolsinger.  "GE is committed to the continued growth of the region in support of our customers' requirements for the advancement of aerospace systems.  Suzhou will play a key role in our mission to deliver competitive and time-critical civil aerospace programs."

GE's facility in Suzhou is located at 200 Middle Suhong Road, Suzhou Industrial Park.  This new expansion includes 18,600 sq meters (or 200,000 sq ft) and is immediately capable of producing state-of-the-art autoclaved composite parts, mechanical fabrications, structure assembly and civil aircraft actuation systems.

Current plans are to ramp China labor in this new GE factory to more than 200 employees in 2009. The facility is a strategic focus in support of key customer requirements.

Future plans include the addition of an electronics assembly and test capability. The factory brings great potential to GE and further growth over the next several years is anticipated.  

GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aviation Systems (Suzhou) Co., Ltd is a subsidiary of General Electric Company.  For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.