GE Aviation has acquired Morris Technologies and sister company Rapid Quality Manufacturing, of Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of a planned expansion of engineering and manufacturing capability. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The two privately held companies specialize in additive manufacturing, an automated process for creating rapid prototypes and end-use production components.

A spokesperson for GE Aviation told AIN the company is opening two new 300,000-sq-ft facilities by year-end. The new Ellisville, Miss. facility, scheduled to begin operations next year, will manufacture advanced composite components for jet engines and aircraft systems. It is expected to create 250 manufacturing jobs by 2016. GE Aviation’s first composites factory in Mississippi opened in Batesville in 2008 and now employs more than 300 workers.

The second facility is located in Auburn, Ala., and will produce advanced machined parts for commercial and military engines. Limited hiring begins next year with a planned growth of 300 to 400 people when the plant is at full production later this decade.