MHI Completes Assembly Factory in Nagoya.

Tokyo, Japan, Sept 21, 2006 - (JCN) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. has completed the construction of an assembly factory in Nagoya for the production of composite-material wing boxes for the next-generation Boeing 787.

The new factory, which has a total floor space of approximately 35,000 square meters, is located at the Oye Plant of MHI's Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works. It will coordinate with an adjoining composite-material fabrication factory, which will be responsible for forming composite material parts for the wing boxes such as wing skins, and the Yamatomachi Plant at its Shimonoseki Shipyard and Machinery Works in Yamaguchi, which produces skin stringers, one of reinforcement components of 787 wing boxes. This integrated manufacturing structure covers every aspect of wing-box construction, from parts forming to assembly.

MHI has a long history of research and development in the area of composite materials and boasts a solid record in supplying various components, including those used in long-haul business jets, Japan Self Defense Force aircraft and rockets.

Orders for Boeing 787 are expected to exceed 1,000 units over the next 20 years. MHI aims to achieve technological expertise in the design and manufacture of large-scale composite-material wings, thereby consolidating its position as a global center of aircraft wing production.

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