Area Development
ATK has announced it will soon complete its new 615,000-sq.-ft. Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence in Clearfield, Utah. The new consolidated manufacturing facility will serve as headquarters for ATK Aerospace Structures' commercial aircraft programs. It also will support the manufacturing of commercial airframes and engine components for the Airbus A350, as well as the General Electric and Rolls-Royce engine programs.

ATK is an aerospace, defense and commercial products company with operations in 24 states, Puerto Rico, and other points around the globe. Its revenues total about $4.8 billion.

Last year it was reported the firm would invest $100 million to develop the facility, expected to create 802 high-paying jobs over the next 20 years and generate almost $1 billion in wages. Utah's Office of Economic Development gave the Minneapolis-based company a tax incentive worth $19 million to construct the center.

Joy de Lisser, VP and general manager of ATK Aerospace Structures Division, said the aircraft composite business has grown substantially over the last several years. "This new facility will take us to the next level," she noted, as it will be a state-of-the-art, full spectrum engineering and manufacturing center for commercial composite aircraft structures and components. According to company estimates, it has the capability of manufacturing more than 10,000 parts per month at rate production levels.

Locating the center in Utah gave ATK the opportunity to co-locate its design, engineering and technical talent with its existing facilities, added Blake Larson, president of ATK Aerospace Systems Group. "Utah has provided an excellent business environment," he said.

ATK will host a grand opening for the facility in August.