Jobs boost follows aerospace investment

The production line at the company's plant in Belfast

A £17m investment at a County Down aerospace factory is to create 64 jobs and safeguard 298 others.

B/E Aerospace announced the investment at its Kilkeel plant on Friday.

The company manufactures cabin seats and other interior products for a number of airlines around the world, and had feared closure in the aftermath of the terror attacks in America.

The factory will become the company's only production unit for its complete range of aircraft seats.

It is a massive endorsement of Northern Ireland as an international industrial location by one of the most respected groups in the aerospace business

Sir Reg Empey
Enterprise minister

The investment has been backed by a £4m grant from the Industrial Development Board.

B/E Aerospace vice-president Michael Baughan said his company had decided to concentrate its seat manufacturing operation at Kilkeel following a major cost reduction programme that was introduced at the factory in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

"We have been impressed by the pride which employees here at Kilkeel have in their work, their attention to detail, their adaptability and the overall flexibility which is a feature of this plant's performance," he said.

"The investment will enable Kilkeel to play a pivotal role in helping the group grow its business within the global airline industry."

'Significant boost'

Mr Baughan, who is also the general manager of the American based aerospace company said that as a result of the consolidation programme announced in October 2001 and the economic recovery in the United States and other markets, the company expected to experience significant growth later in the year.

The investment was welcomed by the Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister, Sir Reg Empey, who described it as a "further significant boost" for the area.

"This very substantial investment programme in plant, equipment and people will see Kilkeel become a world-class centre of manufacturing excellence in the entire range of aircraft seats which B/E Aerospace supplies to the global airline industry," he said.

"It is, furthermore, a massive endorsement of Northern Ireland as an international industrial location by one of the most respected groups in the aerospace business."