CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodrich Corporation GR chairman, president and chief executive officer Marshall Larsen joined Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, City of Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, and other officials at a ribbon‑cutting ceremony today to mark the opening of its expanded high tech manufacturing facility in Burnsville, Minn. The ceremony included a tour of advanced production, design and development areas for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) within the new 46,000 square foot expansion. The facility is part of Goodrich's Sensors and Integrated Systems business which employs approximately 4,200 people worldwide in high tech disciplines including engineering, manufacturing, and administrative functions. The Burnsville-based business has more than 1,600 employees in Minnesota – approximately 1,275 in Burnsville, and 335 in Eagan.

The MEMS manufacturing facility will produce miniature silicon wafer sensors – approximately the size of a fingertip – that are used across the company's commercial and military aerospace sensor-based products and systems. In addition to the new MEMS facility, Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems president Tom Mepham pointed out the high tech icing wind tunnel on the campus, which began operations earlier this year. The wind tunnel is one of the most advanced aerospace icing wind tunnels in the world.

"Companies like Goodrich know that our state's highly-skilled workforce makes Minnesota a great place to do business," said Governor Mark Dayton. "I am very pleased that Goodrich is expanding their facility here. The high tech jobs that this expansion will create are the jobs of the future, and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that Minnesota workers are well-prepared to fill these jobs for years to come."

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar said, "Goodrich could have built this new facility anywhere it wanted - but it decided to expand its high tech operations in Minnesota and that says a lot about our state's commitment to technology and progress. Minnesota is a state that makes things and this new facility is a shining example of the vital role innovation plays in our economy." 

Larsen added, "Today's event is the culmination of the hard work and commitment of our employees as well as our government officials. We are positive about our industry, our company, and the capability of our team here in Minnesota to develop the most advanced aerospace products in the world that enhance flight safety and reduce operating costs."

Also attending the ceremony were Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Mark Phillips, Minnesota Senator Dan Hall, Minnesota Representative Pam Myhra, Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers and a bi-partisan delegation of other legislators. Approximately 180 Goodrich employees joined in marking the opening of the facility.

Goodrich Corporation's Sensors and Integrated System facility in Burnsville encompasses more than 300,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. Primary products produced at the facility include advanced air data systems, cockpit data management systems, and various sensors and sensor-based products for commercial and military aerospace applications.

Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defense industries. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities. For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com.

Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a parent company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be referred to as "Goodrich Corporation" in this press release.

SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR - Electronic Systems