GE Aviation invests in electrical power technology for commercial, military use

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., 7 May 2012.GE Aviation (NYSE:GE) has expanded into a new facility in Pompano Beach, Fla., which includes a 30 percent increase in square footage and a research and development (R&D) lab for the advanced development of silicon carbide (SiC)-based power conversion products for air, land, and sea-based platforms.

The 30,000-square-foot facility at 2705 Gateway Drive in Pompano Beach includes a new lab capable of providing increased capacity for developing, testing, and manufacturing advanced electrical power conversion products employed on civil and military platforms.

“This new facility enables us to continue work on GE-developed SiC technology, with the potential of reducing the weight on an aircraft by more than 400 pounds," says Vic Bonneau, president of Electrical Power for GE Aviation Systems. “GE is committed to Florida and is investing approximately $20 million in program work and R&D related to our Pompano Beach facility over the next five years.

“An important part of our strategy is to aggressively invest in the kinds of technologies that will solve large problems for our customers 10 years from now,” Bonneau adds. GE's SiC power devices will help airlines create more passenger and storage space, while meeting an increased demand for electrical power on the plane.

GE Aviation has 40 employees at the Pompano Beach facility who design and manufacture high-end, military-gradepower supplies, including custom and standard power conversion and control products. GE currently has approximately 4,300 employees in Florida.