The construction of Bombardier’s new Global Manufacturing Centre at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Canada, is on track for completion in 2023, the OEM noted at an event attended by local officials.
The facility is intended to optimise final assembly operations for Bombardier’s family of Global business jets, including the Global 7500.
Attendees at the event included Bonnie Crombie, mayor of the city of Mississauga, Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), Jerry Dias, national president at Unifor, and several other key representatives of the Greater Toronto aerospace community. Bombardier reiterated its commitment to continue the momentum of its presence in Ontario.
The facility will provide a new home to the Global Manufacturing Centre currently located in nearby Downsview, Ontario. The move, which represents a private investment by Bombardier of approximately US$400m (€347m), will provide continued employment to the 2,000 employees currently working at the Downsview facility.
“We came here today to show you first-hand that construction of our new Global Manufacturing Centre of Excellence is advancing as planned,” said Éric Martel, president and CEO, Bombardier. “We are extremely proud of the people who have been producing our best-in-class business jets for decades here in Ontario, and with the rising demand for large-cabin, long-range aircraft, we are looking forward to providing our teams with a new, state-of-the-art work environment.”
The Downsview plant was built in the 1960s. Bombardier said the transition to the new 770,000ft² (71,535m²) facility will reduce its industrial and environmental footprint in the area. The company is embracing the opportunity to incorporate as many environmentally responsible features as possible. It said energy consumption will be reduced by just under 60% by focussing on natural and more efficient lighting elements, and newer heating methods and updated processing systems will lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than half. Considerably less water will be used in the manufacturing process thanks to the modifications implemented in the processing shop workflow. In parallel, electric vehicles will be favoured for on-site transportation and three Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tanks will provide fuel for departing aircraft.
During the event, Bombardier also confirmed it will remain active in creating educational and job opportunities for future generations of aerospace talent in the Greater Toronto area, particularly through its continued involvement in the Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR) consortium. The consortium, which the company cofounded with Centennial College, drives local collaborative research and development to help small and medium aerospace hub businesses scale up.
“It is our continuing strategy to further support local innovation, harness the ingenuity of future aerospace professionals and enrich our local supply chain,” said Martel. “Our involvement with DAIR enables us to realise this vision and it is one that we value greatly.”
Martel also emphasised the importance of local partnerships in facilitating the successful transition to a new production site: “I want to thank the City of Mississauga and the Regional Municipality of Peel, as well as our partners at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for making us feel truly welcome in our future new home here in Mississauga.”
“I’m so proud that Bombardier, one of the world’s most innovative aviation companies, has chosen to make this very significant investment in Mississauga,” said Mayor Crombie. “By opening its new Global Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in our city, Bombardier will strengthen our world-class aviation sector by continuing its relationship with Mississauga-based companies that provide leading-edge capabilities to support Bombardier’s family of Global business jets. I look forward to working with Bombardier and Pearson to find new ways to bring more aerospace investment to Mississauga.”
“Toronto Pearson has a vision to be the airport of the future – from our approach to health and safety through our globally recognised Healthy Airport programme to creating a more modernised airport experience,” said Flint of GTAA. “Part of being the airport of the future means building partnerships that confer greater economic and social opportunities on the communities we serve. Bombardier’s focus on innovation and connection is a perfect fit for Toronto Pearson as we build back a better, more resilient, more innovative aviation and aerospace sector right here in Mississauga.”
“Unifor aerospace members’ skills are virtually unmatched and the aircraft they build are unrivalled in their class,” said Dias of Unifor. “The new production facility will help secure advanced manufacturing jobs for the long term and will be a proud new home for highly skilled Bombardier workers for generations to come.”
“Ledcor is proud to be building Bombardier’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport,” said Ray Lawrence, vice president, Ontario, Ledcor Construction. “We are excited to work with the project and design team to achieve Bombardier’s sustainability and energy efficiency targets.”
