Boeing breaks ground on expansion project in Winnipeg

Aerospace giant Boeing is renewing their commitment to the community of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba Wednesday, breaking ground on a new $20 million, 12 thousand square foot expansion at its manufacturing plant in Winnipeg.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew was on for the announcement, joined by Minister of Economic Development Jamie Moses, and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham. 

“Its great to see that Boeing is continuing to invest here so there are going to be more good jobs in the future for people to be able to work at. And I think it is great we are doing this on take our kids to work day. So that the next generation can Envision a future for themselves in the aerospace industry,” said Kinew.

This will mark the fifth expansion for the plant since it opened its doors in 1971.  And will see the addition of a new 72 hundred square-foot freezer, which houses the composite materials needed in the assemblies of Boeing commercial airplanes, including the main landing gear doors for the 787 Dreamliner.

“This will have a thaw room where the material will be able to thaw.  Right now we just thaw it out in the hallway here which takes up production space and interrupts production flow.  So this will make our productions a lot more efficient,” explained Nick Bevilacqua, Director of Business Operations, Boeing Winnipeg.

Already the largest aerospace composite manufacturing plant in Canada, this latest addition will nearly double the facility’s freezer capacity, all while lowering the plants annual energy usage by 20 per cent. 

Boeing Winnipeg General Manager, Teri Thompson says this latest commitment is a testament not only to the brand’s global demand but also to the continued excellence of the plant’s 1,500 employees.

“Boeing Winnipeg, has a great reputation, it’s a very talented labour pool. Skilled, passionate workers, Boeing products are doing very well, there is strong demand and this is a testament to invest in that, and to our commitment to the people in the building,” said Teri Thompson, General Manager of Boeing Winnipeg.

The Expansion is scheduled to be completed in 2025.