Industryweek 2833 Itt Excilis Promo

New Composite Design, Manufacturing Center Opens in Utah

Aug. 17, 2012
ITT Exelis’ new facility provides increased capacity and enhanced automation capability for advanced commercial and military composite aircraft structures.

Both military and commercial customer demand is behind ITT Exelis’ decision to open a new composite design and manufacturing center on Thursday in Salt Lake City.

“Strong demand from our domestic and international customers has fueled this expansion,” said Jim Barber, vice president and general manager of the  Exelis Electronic Systems  Integrated Structures business.

The new facility provides increased capacity and enhanced automation capability for advanced commercial and military composite aircraft structures. 

Composite structures are used increasingly by airframers as an alternative to metal structural parts on commercial and military aircraft, as well as on unmanned aerial vehicles. These structures add value because they help decrease an aircraft’s weight and fuel consumption and increase its resilience to environmental conditions and in-flight stress.

“With the addition of automated fiber placement and tape laying capability combined with high speed machining, inspection and assembly, we are positioned to provide optimal composite solutions more efficiently,” said Barber. 

The expansion aligns with the company’s strategy to invest strategically in broad-based government and commercial solutions, such as aerostructures and air traffic management.  By adding 250,000 square feet to its Salt Lake City footprint and hiring 100 employees during the past year, the company is gearing up to meet military and commercial customer demand. 

Exelis has more than 40 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of composite structures and assemblies in Utah. Along with producing parts for military applications, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Marine Corps’ heavy lift helicopter, the CH-53K, Exelis provides engines to GE for a wide variety of aircraft and vacuum tanks for several of the Boeing 7-series jets.

 “The investment Exelis has made will benefit Utah’s economy and reputation as a technology leader for years to come," said Utah Governor Gary Herbert.   It is a great pleasure to be associated with a company that includes a dynamic workforce, dedicated suppliers and top tier customers who share in the same vision.”

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Gain a competitive edge with real-world lessons on private 5G networks

Nov. 16, 2023
The use of private networks in manufacturing applications is rapidly growing. In this paper, we present valuable insights and lessons learned from the field with the goal of enhancing...

The Guide to Balancing Citizen Development and Governance in Manufacturing Operations

Sept. 19, 2023
Platforms with no-code capabilities provide a competitive advantage for manufacturers responding to rapidly changing disruptions and demands. This guide helps manufacturers maintain...

A Quantitative Comparison of Digitized Industrial Automation Systems

Aug. 9, 2023
This paper presents data gathered from actual field research. The data suggests that a move away from traditional, heavily engineered, and proprietary systems to user experience...

Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics Guidebook for Engineers

Sept. 27, 2023
Leverage Domain Expertise to Drive Optimization – Without Needing a Data Scientist.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!