CLEARWATER, Fla. and PARIS, France — GE opened the doors of its brand new Capacitor and Instrument Transformer Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Clearwater, Florida on Wednesday. GE’s $60 million investment in the facility is a significant boost for economic development in the state and a reflection of GE’s ongoing commitment to advancing American manufacturing.
GE’s new 190,000 square foot Center of Excellence, an expansion of its 40-year old instrument transformer facility in Clearwater, will produce instrument transformers and capacitors for the global market. The factory opening will create 275 new jobs in the Tampa Bay region, training its employees to operate the latest technologies and digital platforms.
“We are cultivating a skilled workforce in Clearwater,” said Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos. “With the expansion of GE’s Center of Excellence, we are helping to strengthen Florida’s position as a global cleantech and manufacturing hub and thank Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature for its commitment to manufacturing facilities such as this one.”
With the Clearwater factory, GE is meeting growing global demand with a 35% increase in capacity and a 50% reduction in manufacturing cycle time.
As an early adopter of GE’s Predix Edge software, the Clearwater facility will provide predictive and prescriptive analytics and actionable insights that will be transferable across all of GE’s global manufacturing facilities, increasing operational and supply chain efficiency.
“The world-class manufacturing center in Clearwater is a landmark for the American manufacturing industry,” said Alan Swade, General Manager for the Capacitors Business at GE’s Grid Solutions. “The equipment manufactured in Florida will maintain efficient power flows across electrical transmission and distribution networks. The Clearwater factory will serve one of the fastest-growing market segments globally and enable the integration of renewable energy sources around the world.”
The Clearwater facility also boasts industry-leading product designs, including state-of-the-art drying ovens and refinery, sensor-enabled process equipment, and robotics to automate tasks, delivering more consistent, repeatable outcomes, accelerating innovation, speed and performance. Its vertically-integrated operations provide for a consistent reduction of lead and cycle times across a wide variety of product configurations.
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