Manufacturing Today Issue - 221 February 2024 | Page 174

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In 2005 , Boeing sold its Wichita division and Oklahoma operations . The new company , Spirit AeroSystems , began the transformation from a single-source supplier into an independent global supplier with multiple customers and platforms .
The following year , Spirit acquired the aerostructures business unit from BAE Systems , including its facilities in Prestwick , UK . This operation is now known as Spirit AeroSystems ( Europe ) Limited . Spirit Europe is one of the largest airframe suppliers to Airbus and is a key supplier of major wing structures .
Built to win
Since 2005 , Spirit has strategically acquired operations of other leading aerospace companies , expanding company manufacturing and engineering operations globally . Spirit opened facilities in Malaysia in 2007 , France in 2009 and North Carolina in
2010 . In 2020 , Spirit completed the acquisition of sites in Northern Ireland , Morocco and Texas . Each year , Spirit has continued to expand its business , boost capabilities and ramp up production of aerostructures for the world ’ s premier aircraft . ​
Spirit is one of the world ’ s largest non-OEM manufacturers of complex structures for the commercial aerospace industry . From design and development to production , delivery and MRO , it offers complete production capability . It designs , develops and manufactures fuselage systems , propulsion systems and wing systems . Spirit supports numerous customers ’ programs , including Airbus , Boeing , Bombardier , and Mitsubishi .
Unprecedented commercial aviation growth directly translates into record orders from Spirit customers . In Kinston , North Carolina , where Spirit fabricates composite structures for the Airbus A350 , production

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