Gulfstream Aerospace plans to hire for more than 200 positions and invest $55 million in expanding its Appleton, Wisconsin site because of increased customer demand and its growing fleet of super-midsize and large-cabin jets.

The Appleton expansion involves the construction of a 73,000-sq-ft (6,782-sq-m) paint facility using a paint booth design developed by the airframer and Wisconsin-based paint booth manufacturer Global Finishing Solutions. When operational, the facility will have the capability to paint up to 48 aircraft a year and enable the Appleton site to offer entire aircraft completions. It is expected to open in the third quarter of 2023.

The company’s Appleton workforce planning calls for hiring engineers, mechanics, avionics technicians, and skilled trade and craftspeople. Gulfstream will host a job fair from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on June 9 at its Appleton site at N687 Discovery Drive. “We are in a period of rapid growth and are currently hiring for a wide range of positions,” added Gulfstream v-p of completions L.D. Buerger.

Additionally, Gulfstream has made several enhancements to its Appleton site, including an office area for completions customers and pilots, wood finishing area, upgraded shipping and receiving area, and completions hangar with an employee breakroom and lockers.

The Appleton expansion follows Gulfstream’s expansion of its St. Louis completions, as well as new facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and Mesa, Arizona, and an expansion of its customer support call center in Farnborough, England.

“Gulfstream continues to make significant investments across the company to address both current demand and future growth in our completions and Customer Support operations,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “The investment in our Appleton facility is a key part of our overall strategy to provide our customers with industry-leading completions and support worldwide.”