Air compressor turbine blades of an aircraft jet engine. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Aeroengine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (East Hartford, Conn., U.S), announced on Oct. 22, 2020, that it will invest $650 million through 2027 in a new 1 million-square-foot facility for world-class production of turbine airfoils in Asheville, N.C., U.S. According to a press release issued by Pratt & Whitney about the expansion, the new facility will house an advanced casting foundry and also complete airfoil machining, coating and finishing operations. Of more interest to the composites industry, local sources have noted that this facility will also manufacture airfoils made from ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). This represents a major shift in materials and process application for Pratt & Whitney and is part of the company’s larger effort to position its engines for next-generation aircraft.