Increasing its production of gears, components and spare parts for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter and Rolls-Royce programs, Northstar Aerospace Inc. is bringing 70 new jobs to three facilities in North America. About 10 machinists will be added to the facility in Anderson, Indiana; the Windsor, Ontario site will grow by about 20 machinists and support staff; and 40 new employees will join the Chicago site for CNC machining, ID/OD grinding, shaping, hobbing and inspection in addition to support staff in the heat treat, plating and assembly areas.

Orders for the CH-47 gears and components this year have reached $114 million, $60 million of which was announced in June alone. The helicopter orders in 2007 stood at $167 million.

"We are focused on transforming our growing backlog into production to meet the needs of our customers," says Glenn Hess, president and CEO. "The hiring campaign and investment in state-of-the-art, automated machining centers at our Chicago and Phoenix sites will help us increase production to needed levels."