GE Aerospace invests millions ahead of April spinoff

By the numbers: About $450 million is going toward upgrades at 22 GE Aerospace sites in 14 states, the company says.

• That includes $54 million for 3D printing tech in Auburn, Alabama; $30 million for military engine assembly and testing in Lynn, Massachusetts; $46 million for four North Carolina commercial airline engine plants and more.
• It's also investing $100 million in domestic suppliers, and another $100 million in foreign sites.

Zoom in: GE Aerospace is looking to bring on over 1,000 new workers nationwide alongside this new spending.

The big picture: The investments come as the aviation world has been reeling from engine issues that, for airlines, have ranged from a headache to an existential threat despite booming travel demand.

• Engine makers like GE are also working on next-gen propulsion tech to help the aviation sector reach its ambitious zero-emissions goals.

What they're saying: GE Aerospace is "consequential and right in the middle of this," Mike Kauffman, GE Aerospace vice president, supply chains, tells Axios.

• "And that requires investment, both in our technology as we bring forward new, more fuel efficient power plants ... as well as a need to invest in manufacturing."

What's next: An upcoming spinoff will leave GE Aerospace as an independent entity, the last in a series of moves ending an era for what was once America's most powerful corporate conglomerate.