Pratt & Whitney is ready to explore Morocco to manufacture important parts for many of its engine models. The announcement was made at the ongoing Paris Air Show, where the engine maker has also secured new airline deals to power their aircraft.
New site in Morocco
Pratt & Whitney has announced that it will launch an affiliate, Pratt & Whitney Maroc (PWM), in Casablanca to manufacture detailed static and structural machined parts for various engine models.
The engine maker hopes this investment will help develop cost-effective sourcing capabilities for competitiveness and optimize operations footprint and asset utilization. Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada, commented,
“Morocco offers many benefits for aerospace manufacturing. The growing aerospace community in Casablanca ensures a highly valuable talent pool, a positive economic environment, and the support from Morocco’s government. Pratt & Whitney Maroc, as an independent affiliate, will create 200 jobs by 2030, and we look forward to joining the business community in Casablanca’s MidParc Free Zone.”
The facility
Morocco was selected after a global benchmarking exercise due to its growing hub of aerospace companies, cost of business, and trained, available talent. The new greenfield facility will be spread across 130,000 square feet and built with lean principles and CORE methodology to drive efficiency and quality and reduce costs.
This investment is an important part of the company’s ability to produce engines to meet strong demand. It will also bring Pratt & Whitney closer to its African customer base and partners, allowing it to further support the aerospace growth in this region. The construction of the facility is scheduled to begin in Q4 2023 to ensure a successful launch in 2025.
The representative of the Moroccan Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies (MICEPP) noted that this development will create job opportunities for the youth in the region, foster knowledge transfer, and promote collaboration between local and international stakeholders.
Expanding in Columbus, too
Pratt & Whitney will also invest in increasing the capacity of its facility in Columbus, Georgia, in the US. The company’s campus in Georgia – consisting of the Columbus Engine Center and Columbus Forge – has been operational for almost four decades.
The investment of more than $200 million will enable Pratt & Whitney to overhaul up to 400 GTF (geared turbofan) engines each year, also known as the PW1000G. The GTF powers Embraer E2, Airbus A220, and Airbus A320neo aircraft, as well as F117 and F100 military jet engines.
New deals
The engine manufacturer has also secured new deals at this year’s Paris Air Show. China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings entered into a memorandum of understanding to acquire up to 60 GTF engines from Pratt & Whitney to power Airbus A320neo aircraft.
United Airlines, too, picked P&W’s GTF engine for its Airbus A321neo and XLR fleet over the next few years. United has firm orders for 70 Airbus A321neos and 50 A321XLRs, and the first of these GTF-powered Airbus deliveries are expected later this year.
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