Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has visited Boeing’s Everett factory in the United States to mark the 500th shipment of critical Dreamliner parts manufactured at Boeing’s Fisherman’s Bend plant in Victoria.
Boeing’s Everett plant in Seattle is the largest manufacturing building in the world – and shipments of high-end Victorian aircraft components arrive there and at Boeing South Carolina.
The company’s Victorian plant is the sole supplier of moveable trailing edges for the 787 Dreamliner – the most technically advanced commercial aircraft in the world.
During his visit at the Everett plant, the Premier met Boeing Fabrication Vice President and General Manager Jenette Ramos and the pair 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.
“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,” the Minister said.
“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.”
Maureen Daugherty, President of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, said 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 was developed in Victoria to provide significant weight and efficiency savings for the aircraft.
“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,” Ms Daugherty said.
“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.”
