Boeing today celebrated the opening of its new propulsion engineering and assembly facility in North Charleston.

The team of engineers, manufacturing and support personnel at Propulsion South Carolina (PSC) are responsible for the design and assembly of the 737 MAX engine nacelle inlet, the design of the 737 MAX engine nacelle fan cowl and the design and engineering integration for the 777X nacelle. PSC employees have worked in other Boeing South Carolina facilities while the new building was under construction.

Propulsion South Carolina was established in May 2013 to build capability and capacity in integrated propulsion system design and assembly to support growth and enhance the performance of future airplanes. Boeing has relied on its supply chain to perform the majority of propulsion system design and assembly during the last 10 to 15 years, but is strategically bringing some of that work in-house.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner was joined at the grand opening event by Governor Nikki Haley and other elected officials, community representatives and Boeing employees.

“The new propulsion center demonstrates our confidence in the Boeing South Carolina workforce and Boeing’s commitment to the state,” Conner said. “Our investment in both South Carolina and Washington state will help enable Boeing to be a preferred provider to customers and capture future airplane market demand by delivering competitive and high-performing products such as the 737 MAX and 777X.”

The 225,000 square foot (20,903 square meters) facility will include state-of-the-art automated manufacturing equipment to efficiently assemble the 737 MAX engine nacelle inlets when production begins later this year. It also provides office space for engineering design, production and support staff.

Boeing press release