Kawasaki Heavy Industries Introduces New Manufacturing Production Line At Its Lincoln, Nebraska Hub
01/05/2016
According to company officials, “steady growth in demand for new aircraft is anticipated to continue in the worldwide commercial airplane market. Taking this opportunity to establish an assembly line for the Boeing 777X’s cargo doors, Kawasaki designates the Lincoln factory as its aerostructure manufacturing base in the U.S. and will actively pursue the expansion of its commercial aircraft business as well as the growth of KMM.”
Kawasaki develops and manufactures forward and mid fuselage panels, main landing gear wells, pressure bulkheads and cargo doors for the 777X. For the production work of the cargo door at the Lincoln factory, Kawasaki will use an automated riveting machine and an in-house developed painting robot to enhance the automation and speed of production and ensure high quality, thereby increasing the efficiency in production.
Nebraska Department of Economic Development officials said this is the first time for Kawasaki to establish an aerostructures production line in the United States. The production equipment is scheduled for installation in a work area of about 30,100 square feet in the existing factory prior to March 2017. Production operations will start in May 2017.
“Nebraska has benefited greatly from Kawasaki’s presence in the state,” said Governor Pete Ricketts. “Kawasaki’s decision to expand operations in Nebraska demonstrates our competitive position in the global economy. These added jobs and investment will help grow the Nebraska economy and increase employment opportunities in our state.”
The Lincoln factory began producing motorcycles in 1974, as a factory of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., and was later independently incorporated as KMM in 1981. The factory also currently produces, among others: all-terrain vehicles, the Jet Ski personal watercraft, and railway vehicles.
The factory has introduced the Kawasaki Production Systems, Kawasaki’s original production system developed through mass-production activities over many years. It will extend these systems to the production of aerostructures as well.
Project Announcements
ValorFlex Packaging Plans Bowling Green, Kentucky, Production Operations
06/30/2025
Neuro.io Plans Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, Operations
06/30/2025
Germany-Based MTU Maintenance Expands Fort Worth, Texas, MRO Operations
06/30/2025
Cascade Die Casting Group Expands High Point, North Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
06/30/2025
BuildOps Plans Raleigh, North Carolina, Operations
06/30/2025
Point Blank Enterprises Plans Wakulla County, Florida, Operations
06/30/2025
Most Read
-
20th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
Q2 2025
-
First Person: Joe Capes, CEO, LiquidStack
Q2 2025
-
The Legal Limits of DEI in Incentives Agreements, Hiring, and Contracting
Q2 2025
-
From Silicon to Server: Mapping the Data Center Supply Chain
Q2 2025
-
39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection
Q1 2025
-
Rethinking Life Sciences Site Selection in a Resilient and Dynamic Market
Q2 2025
-
Top States for Doing Business in 2024: A Continued Legacy of Excellence
Q3 2024