MHI Completes Expansion of Aircraft Production Facility at Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works
Tokyo, September 16, 2015 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed facility expansion at the Aircraft Shop of the Yamatomachi Plant of its Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, in preparation for production increase of composite wing boxes for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. MHI expanded the facility in response to Boeing's plan to increase the 787's production rate from the current 10 airplanes per month to 14 by the end of the decade.
A ceremony was held at the facility to mark completion of the expansion project. In attendance were officials from the Yamaguchi prefectural and Shimonoseki municipal governments as well as numerous guests from the local community. Representing MHI were executive officers of the company's Commercial Airplanes Division and Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works.
The expansion at the Shimonoseki facility will enable to increase production capacity of stringers, reinforcement structures integrated into the wing boxes, which have been produced at the Aircraft Shop since 2006. For increased stringer production, production machinery will go into operation sequentially: including an autoclave for curing and shape-forming the layered composite prepregs under high temperature and high pressure, and cutting machines for machining of components.
The stringers manufactured at the Aircraft Shop are transported to the Oye Plant of MHI's Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Aichi Prefecture, where they are integrated into the wing boxes for shipment to Boeing. Preparations are also under way to increase production capacity at the Oye Plant.
MHI has undertaken production of composite wing boxes for the 787 Dreamliner since the program was launched. Delivery of the first unit took place in May 2007. MHI continues to play an important role in the 787 program through expanded production and supply of high-quality composite wing boxes, looking to tie its success to further expansion of its commercial aircraft business in the future.
