Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Adds 30,000 Square Feet to Cirrus Facility to Strengthen Composite Manufacturing Operations, Increases Production Capacity and Reinforces Long-Term Commitment to the Grand Forks Community
GRAND FORKS, N.D.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Cirrus–Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd.) today celebrated the opening of its expanded manufacturing facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued investment in manufacturing excellence, safety and quality as well as long-term growth. The multi-million-dollar expansion provides the additional production capacity needed to optimize manufacturing flow, increase efficiency, and support demand across the Cirrus product portfolio including the best-selling high-performance single-engine piston aircraft, the SR Series and best-selling jet in general aviation, the Vision Jet.
Purpose-built to support current and forecasted production rates, the expanded facility enables an optimized production layout that streamlines the movement of composite parts throughout the manufacturing process. The enhanced workflow will improve manufacturing efficiency, and the additional footprint allows for improved automation capability, equipment integration with business systems, and workplace safety.
“This expansion reflects our continued investment in our people, our products, and the Grand Forks community,” said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer at Cirrus. “By adding more than 30,000 square feet, creating new jobs, and enhancing our workplace for our team members, we’re positioning Cirrus for continued growth. The strong partnerships we’ve built with the City of Grand Forks, the State of North Dakota, the Bank of North Dakota, and the University of North Dakota have given us the confidence to continue investing here, including making Grand Forks the location where we will manufacture composites for the new TRAC10 flight training aircraft.”
“Grand Forks has played an essential role in Cirrus’ growth and manufacturing strategy for decades,” said Pat Waddick, President of Innovation and Operations at Cirrus. “Our success starts with our people and our supportive community. This investment allows us to create an even better environment for our team while expanding the capacity and capabilities needed to support our continued growth.”
Home to approximately 500 employees, the Grand Forks facility plays a critical role in Cirrus’ manufacturing operations, producing advanced composite parts that support aircraft production. Team members across manufacturing, engineering, safety and quality assurance, CNC machining, human resources and training contribute to the facility’s success, with approximately 80 percent of the workforce dedicated to direct manufacturing operations.
The expansion addresses the growing need for additional manufacturing space as Cirrus aircraft demand continues to increase. The expansion also provides facility flexibility to better support the innovation process.
This project also reflects the strong partnership between Cirrus and the Grand Forks community. In addition to Cirrus’ investment, local partner contributions underscore a shared commitment to economic growth and advanced manufacturing in the region.
The expanded facility officially opens on August 14 and further strengthens Cirrus’ manufacturing network, ensuring the company is well-positioned to meet customer demand while continuing to deliver the quality, innovation and craftsmanship that define every Cirrus aircraft.
About Cirrus
Cirrus is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet, the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft is over 19 million hours, and over 300 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Learn more at cirrusaircraft.com.
Contacts
Media Contact
Nadia Haidar
PR Manager, Cirrus
[email protected]