By Scott Miller
smiller@scbiznews.com
Published March 30, 2010

General Electric Co. will continue to expand its footprint in the Upstate after opening a new GE Aviation plant south of Greenville.

Plant leader Brad Brougher referred to the company’s expansion plans as “raising a third flag in South Carolina” to go along with the GE Energy site in Greenville and GE Healthcare in Florence.

GE Aviation moved from its current 50,000-square-foot facility on Garlington Road and out of the shadow of GE Energy to the larger 150,000-square-foot site in the Matrix Industrial Park. GE plans to invest another $30 million on top of the $60 million already invested at the new plant, Brougher said.

About 150 people work there now, and the company is hiring up to 30 more this year, said Jamie Regg, GE’s general manager of turbine airfoils. GE plans to hire up to 100 during the next three years.

“Half the building is open for expansion so that should give you an idea of what our plans are,” said Regg, pictured.

Currently, the facility produces blades for GE commercial aircraft engines. It will produce 350,000 blades this year, or about one per minute of operation, Brougher said.

In addition, GE Aviation may add blade-coating operations at the site that would bring a significant investment in new technology, he said. Right now, GE blades are sent offsite to be treated with pressure- and heat-resistant coatings. The expansion into the remaining half of the building, Brougher said, could include a combination of a new coatings business and additional lines for blades.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint toured the facility Monday, saying afterward that government must lay the groundwork for these types of expansions by enacting business-friendly tax laws.

“I’m sure there’s a lot more room here for anything you want to bring from around the country,” DeMint said. “I look forward to keeping my eyes open to what you’re doing in the future.”