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FeATure poWerpLAnTs
Power Plants
Most of the big names in propulsion have either set up shop, or established joint
ventures in Asia. How are they doing? By Jeremy Torr
This Regional Training Centre (RTC)
is the first such training facility for
Rolls-Royce in Asia. Its purpose is to
develop high-value skills and nurture
talent for the future. “This … facility gives
Rolls-Royce additional capacity, … and
importantly, also marks an important
new phase of our relationship with
Singapore,” said Mike Terrett, Chief
Operating Officer, Rolls-Royce plc,
roLLs-royce hAs seT up in singApore. speaking at the facility opening.
Pratt & Whitney services out of Shanghai. Singapore’s government obviously
CFM is already in India and Snecma/GE agrees that MRO offers a big opportunity
have a successful joint venture with Air for the region’s prosperity. Leo Yip,
China running successfully out of Chengdu Chairman of Singapore’s Economic
in China. The question remains: will we see Development Board (EDB), noted that
complete supply/service/retire services high-tech engineering offers significant
for Asian-built and serviced power plants? opportunities to the region – both for
It may not be that long before that local and overseas customers looking
happens. Rolls-Royce last year established for access to world-class facilities, with
a manufacturing capability at the Seletar internationally accredited qualification
Campus in Singapore, as well as the Trent and certification.
Centre of Excellence for engine repair “Manufacturing is fast emerging
and overhaul. The company is obviously as a key engine of growth for our
committed to Asian manufacturing, and aerospace industry,” said Yip. “We
is the first in the region to make such a will continue to partner with industry
significant move into the production as leaders such as Rolls-Royce to
well as MRO space. build sophisticated manufacturing
“Rolls-Royce continuously invests in capabilities in Singapore.”
technology and infrastructure to expand According to Terret, the new facility,
the scale and efficiency of the services which will create over 500 new jobs
we deliver to our growing customer and bring the number of Rolls-Royce
base,” notes Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, employees in Singapore to over 2,000,
President - Civil Large Engines. He went is the first time Rolls-Royce has set
on to add that Rolls-Royce was committed up outside its traditional UK facilities
to “further develop an integrated and to produce wide chord fan blades and
embedded service capability in Asia to assemble and test large commercial
better meet customer requirements jet engines. “The Rolls-Royce Seletar
in the region.” As such the company is Campus brings together state of the art
LEFT AND OPPOSITE TOP: working closely with educational and technologies, advanced manufacturing
The Rolls-Royce Seletar training establishments in Singapore, and techniques and highly skilled people to
Campus in Singapore has has invested some S$700 million in an produce some of the most advanced aero
seen some impressive
action, including a visit from assembly and test unit; a wide chord fan engines in the world,” he asserts. Not
British royals blade manufacturing facility; an advanced bad for a country that was still unloading
ABOVE RIGHT: The Pratt & technology centre and most important of rice from wooden boats just a half-
Whitney facility in Singapore all, a regional training centre. century ago.
32 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JULY / AUGUST 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM