Boeing has opened a new research and technology centre in South Carolina to conduct research in advanced manufacturing fields, including composite fuselage and propulsion systems.
The new 104,000ft² research and technology centre is located in North Charleston, and construction started last year.
Boeing’s facility has lab spaces for scientist and engineers to research and develop technologies in advanced production systems, non-destructive evaluation and inspection, production analytics and advanced test systems, structural repair technologies, electromagnetic effects, chemical technology and composite fabrication and materials.
The centre has two autoclaves that will be used to cure composite materials parts, an automated paint booth, and a clean room to combine composite layers together.
Boeing chief technology officer and senior vice-president of engineering, operations and technology said: “This new research centre will help us better meet the needs of our customers by enhancing our ability to provide effective, relevant technology in today’s competitive marketplace as we enter our second century of business”.
Boeing Research & Technology, South Carolina centre leader Lane Ballard said: “The people and facilities we’re introducing will help us apply new technology and solutions to our products across the entire company faster, and more efficiently than ever before.”
The research and technology centres operating under Boeing Research & Technology provides future aerospace solutions to improve cycle time, cost, quality and performance of Boeing’s products and services.
It has ten research centres in Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Russia and the US, including Alabama, California, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington.
Boeing had announced the opening of the new South Carolina research and technology centre in 2013, and it expected to create about 400 research jobs in the centre.
The company also plans to open technology research centres in Huntsville, California, St Louis and Seattle.
