The opening of aerospace giant Boeing’s first ever European manufacturing plant in Sheffield has been hailed as “hugely significant” for South Yorkshire, the North of England and the UK as a whole.

The 66,736.24 sq ft (6,200 sq m) facility is making components for Boeing’s 737 and 767 jets.

The £40 million investment has launched with 52 staff, including experienced engineers and more than 20 apprentices, the company said.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “This opening of this new facility is hugely significant for South Yorkshire, the wider Northern Powerhouse and, indeed, for the UK.”

Mr Jarvis said: “Boeing’s choice of location is a strong sign of confidence in our advanced engineering excellence, confidence in our workforce and strong manufacturing heritage, and confidence in the cutting-edge collaborations between university and business that enable us to lead the world.”

Boeing Sheffield manufactures more than 100 different high-tech actuation components for the 737 and 767 wing trailing edge, the company said.

Actuation systems move the flaps at the back of the wing to provide extra lift at low speeds during take-off and landing.

The firm said that, at full capacity, Boeing Sheffield will produce thousands of parts each month, which will be shipped to the US for assembly at Boeing’s plant in Portland, Oregon.

Jenette Ramos, Boeing senior vice president of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Operations, said: “We appreciate all the community support for Boeing’s new advanced manufacturing factory in the UK.

“This is a fabulous example of how we are engaging global talent to provide greater value to our customers.

“In Boeing Sheffield, we are building on longstanding relationships and the region’s manufacturing expertise to enhance our production system and continue to connect, protect, explore and inspire aerospace innovation.”

Boeing said the components manufactured at Boeing Sheffield are made from raw materials sourced from UK suppliers.

These include Aeromet International Ltd, a Worcester-based supplier of advanced aluminium and magnesium cast parts, and Liberty Speciality Steels, located three miles from the new factory.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Boeing choosing the heart of South Yorkshire as its first European home is testament to our capabilities, talent pool and strong manufacturing supply chains which are vital to job creation and creating value for local economies.

“We are leading the world in UK aerospace manufacturing and through our modern Industrial Strategy, we, along with industry, have committed to invest £3.9 billion in aerospace.”

The new plant is situated alongside the University of Sheffield’s Factory 2050, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and builds on a 17-year relationship between the aerospace giant and the university at the centre.

It is on the site of the defunct Sheffield City Airport and next to the former site of the Orgreave coking plant, where violent clashes took place during the 1984-85 miners’ strike.