Construction of a new aviation manufacturing facility is underway in Asheville. GE Aviation broke ground on a $ 124 million plant this week. The site will produce CMC's (ceramic matrix composite) materials, for jet engines. The CMCs replace metal and make for a more efficient engine with better combustion and less emissions.
"This material has been in development, at least in our research labs for almost years.. It's used in small scale production in rocket loaders. It hasn't been economically feasible or frankly, we have not known enough about the material to use it in large scale production," said Mike Kauffman is General Manager of Composites Manufacturing for GE.
This will be the first time CMCs are mass produced. G-E Aviation plans to add 50 jobs and have 340 employees working at the plant within five years. The facility should be operational by early 2015.
Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
