Hyderabad: Safran Aircraft Engines is investing 36 million Euros (about Rs 2,904 crore) in its new plant in Hyderabad.
The plant will be spread across 13,000 sq m, with 8,000 sq m devoted to workshops, in the Special Economic Zone of GMR near the airport. Construction is to begin from June 2019.
The plant is aimed at providing 300 jobs and is likely to be completed by 2020. “Aerospace continues to be a significant driver of India’s growth,” Safran’s CEO Philippe Petitcolin said.
“Safran has selected Hyderabad to establish its aircraft engine manufacturing plant, thus joining the league of other global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who are already manufacturing and exporting from Telangana.”
When the plant hits cruise speed in 2023, it will be able to deliver 15,000 parts per year to support the LEAP’s (aircraft engine) sustained production rate.
CFM, a joint venture between GE Aviation of the United States and Safran Aircraft Engines, is set to deliver 1,800 engines this year, rising to 2,000 in 2020. The new-generation LEAP entered service in 2016 and has now passed the 3 million flight-hours mark.
According to Olivier Andries, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, “Locating this new plant in India reflects our strategy of developing a global supply chain to support the fast-paced ramp-up in LEAP production. It is essential for us to expand our production sources, both in-house and externally, to continue to meet commitments to our customers, the aircraft manufacturers.”
Safran has operated in India for some 65 years, and now has over 600 employees at seven companies which provide design, production and support services for aerospace and defence, plus a maintenance training centre in Hyderabad for CFM engines. Opened in 2010, this centre can train over 500 technicians a year.
The plant in Hyderabad will be delivered by mid-2019 and will employ 300 people. Operations already started in a temporary building with 33 employees, 19 of whom were technicians identified from the State of Telangana and trained through partnership between Telangana Academy of Skill and Knowledge and Safran Electrical & Power
