Boeing has opened a fabrication facility in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK, to produce aircraft components for its 737 and 767 jets.

Built with an investment of more than £40m, Boeing Sheffield is the company’s first production site in Europe.

At full capacity, the 6,200m² facility is expected to produce thousands of actuation system parts each month, which will be transported for assembly in Boeing’s plant in Portland, Oregon, US.

Actuation systems are developed to move the flaps at the back of the aircraft wing to offer additional lift at low speeds during takeoff and landing.

Boeing Sheffield currently employs 52 people, including mechanics, engineers and more than 20 apprentices.

Construction of the facility was supported by a £2.7m grant from the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF)

“We are leading the world in UK aerospace manufacturing and through our modern Industrial Strategy, we, along with industry have committed to invest £3.9bn in aerospace.”

UK Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary of State Greg Clark said: “Boeing choosing the heart of South Yorkshire as its first European home is testament to our capabilities, talent pool and strong manufacturing supply chains which are vital to job creation and creating value for local economies.

“We are leading the world in UK aerospace manufacturing and through our modern Industrial Strategy, we, along with industry have committed to invest £3.9bn in aerospace.”

The facility is the result of a partnership between Boeing and the University of Sheffield. In 2001, Boeing also co-founded its Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in South Yorkshire in collaboration with the university. AMRC is involved in the development of new manufacturing techniques that can be used by the Boeing Sheffield facility.

Sheffield City Council leader Cllr Julie Dore said: “The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is a world class facility at the heart of our region’s economy.

“Boeing Sheffield will manufacture more than 100 different components for its 737 and 767 aircraft here.”

Boeing Sheffield aims to source raw materials from the UK.