Chihuahua’s aerospace investment: ATI commits $80M and 230 jobs as GKN and ALA Corporation also expand
Chihuahua’s aerospace investment gained fresh momentum as three companies used the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 to announce new or expanded operations in the state. ATI Forged Products said it will invest $80 million to open a new operation in the state capital, creating more than 230 specialized jobs. GKN Aerospace confirmed a growth plan for its existing Chihuahua plant, and Italy’s ALA Corporation opened its first office in Mexico in the same city. Governor Maru Campos met with executives from all three companies during the show, along with a separate meeting with Safran, the state’s largest aerospace employer.
ATI’s $80 million plant adds 230 specialized jobs
ATI Forged Products, a U.S. materials manufacturer that supplies titanium and nickel-based superalloy components to the aerospace, defense and medical device industries, will invest $80 million to establish a new operation in the city of Chihuahua. The company said the project will create more than 230 specialized jobs, mostly for technicians and engineers. ATI Chair and CEO Kimberly Fields presented the investment alongside Governor Maru Campos during the inauguration of Mexico’s pavilion at Farnborough 2026, an event that also included Luis Lizcano, Executive President of the Federación Mexicana de la Industria Aeroespacial (FEMIA).
Fields and Campos also discussed expanding ATI’s use of local suppliers, part of a broader push to increase the participation of Chihuahua-based companies in the company’s global supply chain.
GKN Aerospace expands plant in Chihuahua with new investment
GKN Aerospace, a UK-based supplier of aircraft structures, engine components and electrical systems, told state officials it will expand its existing plant in Chihuahua. The company tied the expansion to its work on sustainable flight technology and said the project will add specialized jobs, though it did not disclose an investment amount or a specific job count. GKN framed the decision as confirmation of its confidence in the state’s manufacturing capacity and supply base.
ALA Corporation opens its first Mexico office as Safran’s 35-year anchor holds
Italy’s ALA Corporation, which has operated in the aerospace sector for more than 35 years, opened its first office in Mexico in Chihuahua, positioning the location as its platform for growth across North America. Campos said the state’s goal is to eventually add engineering, design and manufacturing capabilities to the office, which for now will focus on logistics, procurement, quality and inventory management roles.
Campos also met separately with Philippe Errera, Safran’s Executive Vice President of International Development and Government Relations, to review the French company’s expansion plans in the state. Safran has operated in Chihuahua for 35 years and is now the capital’s largest aerospace employer, with 9,000 jobs across 13 plants—its largest production base outside France for aircraft wiring, along with cabin lighting, evacuation and safety systems.
The three deals build on a cluster that already counts 20,000 jobs
The ATI, GKN and ALA Corporation announcements add to a Chihuahua aerospace cluster that already hosts five of the eight original equipment manufacturers operating in Mexico and accounts for close to 20,000 jobs in the sector, according to figures cited alongside the ATI announcement. That existing base of suppliers, engineering centers and manufacturing capacity is what state officials point to when courting new investment at events like Farnborough.
What three Farnborough announcements signal for companies weighing Chihuahua
Three separate decisions landing in the same week, all pointing to the same state, tell manufacturers something about where site-selection risk is lower right now: Chihuahua’s aerospace supply base, talent pool and government engagement are treated as a known quantity by companies ranging from a U.S. materials producer to an Italian engineering firm. For companies evaluating a shelter or standalone operation in Mexico, that kind of concentration usually means faster supplier qualification and a deeper technician labor pool to draw from.
American Industries Group has supported manufacturers establishing operations in Mexico for more than 50 years, including companies entering aerospace clusters like Chihuahua’s. Our team can help companies evaluate locations, infrastructure and operational requirements when considering their next aerospace project in Mexico.
Sources: Government of Chihuahua / ATI Forged Products, Government of Chihuahua / GKN Aerospace, Government of Chihuahua / ALA Corporation
