Kansas City aircraft supplier chooses Chanute for new site

Chanute is getting its second aircraft supplier.

Orizon Aerostructures, previously known as Kansas City, Mo.-based Tech Industries, plans to acquire a 72,000-square-foot building in Chanute and eventually hire up to 150 people in the city, which is 108 miles east of Wichita.

Chanute also is home to a plant operated by Wichita’s Spirit AeroSystems.

Matthew Godinez, executive director of the Chanute Regional Development Authority, said Tuesday that the company plans to build a 70,000-square-foot building to the west of the one its purchasing, with construction set to start later this year.

He said the company will begin the hiring process by July 31.

On Monday, the Chanute City Commission voted 4-0 to provide an incentive package to Orizon for locating the facility there. Godinez said Chanute competed again 48 other Midwest cities for the new plant.

Orizon manufactures parts and subassemblies for commercial aerospace, military fixed wing, rotorcraft, missile/ground support and general aviation manufacturers and suppliers. Its customers include Boeing Defense, GE, General Dynamics, GKN, Lockheed Martin, Lycoming and Northrop Grumman.

Orizon has operations in North Kansas City, Mo.; and Grove and Owasso, Okla.

This story was originally published June 21, 2016 at 11:13 AM with the headline "Kansas City aircraft supplier chooses Chanute for new site."