GE Healthcare and GE Global Research announced the grand opening of GE Healthcare's new, state-of-the-art digital mammography production facility at the Rensselaer Technology Park on June 8.
The new 230,000 sq ft facility will add 150 high paying manufacturing jobs in Rensselaer County with an annual payroll of $10 million.
Investment in the facility totals over $165 million, including a capital grant of $10 million from New York State. The building has achieved USGBC LEED Gold Certification, making it one of only two semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to achieve this status.
"This a wonderful example of how a long-term commitment to technology can spur the growth of our manufacturing base and create new, high-tech jobs," said Mark Little, Senior Vice President and Director, GE Global Research. "We spent 15 years developing GE's revolutionary digital x-ray technology at our Global Research Center in Niskayuna. Today, we celebrate the opening of a new production facility that will manufacture and transfer this innovative technology to all corners of the world."
GE Healthcare has spent 15 years and more than $200 million developing its digital flat panel X-ray technology, which is based on the industry accepted measure known as detective quantum efficiency (DQE). The GE digital flat-panel detector is a critical component of an X-ray system and was designed to provide outstanding image quality and efficiency, according to the company. It was intended not only to improve current procedures, but also to be the platform for innovative advanced applications currently in development including Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Contrast Enhanced Digital Mammography, where low dose and high image quality are essential.
