Spirit AeroSystems creates 3- and 4-axis fabrication center of excellence at its McAlester, Okla., facility

Spirit AeroSystems [NYSE: SPR] announced the creation of a 3- and 4-axis machining center of excellence at its McAlester, Okla., facility. The center will accommodate new detailed parts fabrication work in the global aerostructures market, while also supporting current customer contracts.

The purchase and installation of new equipment in McAlester includes 18 new machines purchased from a fabrication shop in Juarez, Mexico. Spirit acquired the machines to create soft metal machining capacity as part of a U.S.-based center of excellence. This is in addition to the creation of a 5-axis center of excellence in Wichita and the planned expansion of operations in Malaysia to help Spirit grow its global fabrication business. Spirit is already one of the largest aircraft part fabricators for the aerospace industry, machining parts that primarily support Spirit's statement of work.

"The McAlester center of excellence solidifies Spirit as a world leader in the fabrication of detailed parts for the aerospace industry," said Spirit President & CEO Tom Gentile. "Spirit has decades of experience doing this type of work for use internally. Now we can deliver that expertise to other customers around the globe."

Spirit's Oklahoma operations include facilities in McAlester and Tulsa. The state-of-the-art machines installed in McAlester position Spirit to compete in the global metal fabrication market. More than 1,000 unique parts have already been scoped and are in process of being scheduled for production.

"We will be able to offer significant capability at very competitive prices due to the productivity of the new center of excellence," said Spirit Senior Vice President of Operations Ron Rabe. "We look forward to continuing to grow our business by being a world class provider of fabricated parts."

"I am thrilled that Spirit has chosen to grow its business in McAlester," said Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin. "Oklahoma excels in offering businesses opportunities to start or grow, and our partnership with Spirit is leading to exciting new possibilities as they expand their aerospace manufacturing operations. Congratulations to Spirit; we look forward to continuing to work with them to provide the support needed to continue growing."

The new center will specialize in small- to medium-sized parts and is expected to be fully operational later this year. The new capabilities will generate millions of dollars in new revenue for Spirit. Spirit's total fabrication capability spans more than 2.6 million square feet and produces more than 38,000 parts daily.