Diamond Aircraft plans to double its production capacity at both the Austrian and Canadian factories as part of its campaign to become "the leading company in general aviation in its class world-wide."
The Chinese-owned manufacturer currently produces around 90 aircraft annually from Wiener Neustadt and around 75 from the London, Ontario plant. The expansion is expected to bring the total up to 350 airframes.
Comments made by Diamond Austria CEO Liqun Zhang pointed to production remaining at existing plants rather than be relocated to the Chinese site.
"We do not see the take-over of Diamond just as an investment opportunity," Zhang said. "We are here for the long-term and want to grow Diamond on its existing sites. Diamond’s headquarters in Wiener Neustadt have been appointed as the global lead and technology centre and are strongly developed further over the coming years. We are ramping up production from 90 units, close to almost 200 units per year, more than double the volume. In 2018 we have already added more than 100 employees in Austria."
Diamond is also looking to double the capacity of the Canadian plant and urgently needs workers.
"We are doubling our production in 2019 to 150 units as global demand is growing," Zhang added. "After adding more than 100 workers in the past year, we are hiring another 100 people in all departments in 2019 to meet global demand. Our biggest challenge is getting good, skilled people."
Chinese consortium Wanfeng Aviation Industry Co., Ltd. acquired Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH, Diamond Aircraft Inc. (Canada) and Austro Engine GmbH in late 2017. Diamond also has a manufacturing plant at Binzhou Dagao Airport in China.