Cirrus expands US plant by 30,000 sq ft for aircraft manufacturing
US-based Cirrus has announced a multi-million-dollar, 30,000-square-foot expansion at its Grand Forks facility to meet growing demand for its products across its portfolio.
Cirrus, a global leader in personal aviation, recently opened its expanded manufacturing facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota. This investment advances Cirrus’ mission to ensure manufacturing excellence, safety, quality, and long-term growth.
“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.”
Cirrus expands to deliver
Founded in 1984, 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.
Since its inception, 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, according to a news release.
“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,” added Cirrus.
“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.”
The company emphasized the importance of the Grand Forks, North Dakota, location as central to its manufacturing power. Home to about 500 employees, with approximately 80% of them dedicated to direct manufacturing operations, the company called the recent expansion “a significant milestone.” Built to meet current and future production rates, “the expanded facility enables an optimized production layout that streamlines the movement of composite parts throughout the manufacturing process,” according to a news release.
“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 in a news release. “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.”
This growth reflects strong demand and Cirrus’ commitment to both innovation and its employees. The company also highlighted its close partnership with the Grand Forks community, noting that local contributions to the expansion demonstrate a shared commitment to advancing economic growth and manufacturing in the region.
The expanded facility officially opens on August 14. It 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.
