- Published:
- Sunday 29 May 2016
Premier Daniel Andrews has joined global aviation giant Boeing at its Everett factory in the United States to mark a major milestone and witness firsthand Victoria’s contribution to the 787 Dreamliner come to life.
Stretching almost 40 hectares, Boeing’s Everett factory is the largest manufacturing building in the world – and shipments of high-end Victorian aircraft components arrive there and at Boeing South Carolina.
Boeing Aerostructures Australia at Fishermans Bend in Victoria is the sole supplier of moveable trailing edges for the 787 Dreamliner – the most technically advanced commercial aircraft in the world. It exemplifies the economic success and importance of Victoria’s manufacturing sector, directly employing approximately 1,200 highly-skilled workers.
The Premier’s visit to the Everett factory, north of Seattle, comes as Fishermans Bend prepares its 500th shipment of critical Dreamliner parts that will travel from the Port of Melbourne to the USA.
The Premier met Boeing Fabrication Vice President and General Manager Jenette Ramos and discussed Boeing's partnerships with fifty Victorian suppliers to ramp up production for the Dreamliner program, including local high-tech firms Marand and H&H.
The continued success of Boeing Aerostructures Australia has largely been driven by investments in technological advances.
The Fishermans Bend plant is the only Boeing site in the world to apply the unique ‘resin infusion’ system, a carbon fibre production technology that provides significant weight and efficiency savings for the aircraft.
This innovative technology was developed in Victoria, supported by the co-location of a Boeing Research & Technology team at Fishermans Bend.
With air traffic predicted to grow strongly over the next decade, Boeing invested an additional US$63 million in the Fishermans Bend plant to support increased production of the 787 Dreamliner; that investment is in addition to the US$300 million Boeing has invested in Fishermans Bend since the early 2000s.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Without the 1200 highly skilled Victorian BAA workers and the many hundreds more across the supply chain, the 787 Dreamliner simply wouldn't get off the ground."
"It’s been an incredible opportunity to see Victoria's world class workmanship on display at Everett, the advanced manufacturing capabilities we offer to aviation is truly unique and it’s important our relationship with Boeing remains strong.”
Quotes attributable to President of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Maureen Dougherty
“Boeing Aerostructures Australia is a world-class manufacturing facility located in the heart of Victoria and we’re proud of the high-tech ecosystem we’ve developed here.”
“Out of more than 3,000 Boeing employees in Australia, approximately 1,200 of them are engaged in advanced manufacturing and research and development at Fishermans Bend, with a strong local supply chain helping us meet our critical production milestones.”