Japan's Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) has unveiled plans to close its Tanashi factory in the Tokyo suburbs and instead expand facilities located further outside the capital. IHI says the production of engine components that is now done at Tanashi will shift to its larger Soma factory in stages between April 2006 and October 2007. The 500 factory workers now based at Tanashi produce small components for several commercial, defence and space engines as well as for gas turbines.
Source: Flight International