Bell 429 Components To Be Produced In Chihuahua

Textron announced Monday it will outsource more of its operations to Mexico, through an agreement with the State of Chihuahua to develop and build a new manufacturing facility, which will operate as Textron International Mexico (TIM).

The new facility will be used to manufacture various minor assemblies, structural elements and wire bundles for the Bell 429 commercial helicopter. Once work is completed in Mexico, the parts will be shipped to Textron's Canadian helicopter manufacturing operation for final assembly.

Textron says the expansion broadens the company's global footprint, while enhancing Chihuahua's growing regional aerospace hub.

"We are very pleased to increase our presence in Chihuahua," said Siisi Adu-Gyamfi, senior vice president, International and Marketing for Textron. "To better serve the needs of our increasingly global customer base, we have long recognized the importance of investing our resources to deliver the greatest value -- for us and for our customers."

"Chihuahua offers Textron an outstanding industrial environment in which to do business," Adu-Gyamfi continued. "We continue to be impressed with its talented labor force, as well as its strategic northern Mexico location."

Textron expects to ultimately employ approximately 375 at the new facility.

"We welcome Textron's expansion and look forward to a prosperous future together," said Chihuahua State Governor, Jose Reyes Baeza Terrazas, "We've developed a modern infrastructure with advanced transportation and utilities systems and access that, coupled with our highly trained labor pool are extremely conducive for supporting businesses like Textron."

FMI: www.textron.com, www.bellhelicopter.com