Page 52 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

inteRVieW Mtu MaintenanCe Zhuhai

Regional MRO Heavyweight

MTU Maintenance Zhuhai handles 2/3rd of MTU Maintenance’ CFM56 engine overhauls

FRank BoDenhaGe, GeneRaL ManaGeR, extended its facility by 5,900 square
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai in an interview meters in late 2012, bringing its total area to
with Asian Airlines and Aerospace says almost 40,000 square meters. As a result,
MTU’s Zhuhai facility is now one of the the shop’s overall capacity was boosted
very few shops in Asia with the ability by 50 percent from 200 to 300 shop visits
to overhaul the CFM56-7BE, the newest per year. With a strong customer base
version of the engine. “We see the CFM56 worldwide, this location houses many of
engine family as one of our key programs MTU Maintenance’s experts for the CFM56
both in Asia and worldwide in the future,” he engine family.
says. MTU Maintenance Zhuhai handled two In fact, we recently completed the
thirds of the shop visits performed by MTU 1,000th shop visit and perform two thirds of
Maintenance in 2015. The company had an the MTU Maintenance group’s overall shop
11 percent market share worldwide. Edited visits on this engine. Additionally, we are one
excerpts from the interview. of the very few shops in Asia with the ability
to overhaul the CFM56-7BE, the newest
What are the latest updates with regards version of the engine. MTU Maintenance
to the MTU Maintenance Zhuhai centre? Frank Bodenhage, General Manager, MTU Zhuhai has contributed significantly to the
In April 2016, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, a Maintenance Zhuhai group’s position as number one independent
50/50 joint venture between Germany’s provider worldwide of CFM56 services.
leading engine manufacturer MTU Aero early and was one of the first to set up its Eleven percent of all shop visits worldwide
Engines and China Southern Air Holding own facility in the region. were performed by MTU Maintenance in
Company, celebrated its 15th anniversary. China Southern is China’s largest airline 2015. We see this as one of our key programs
The company, located in the Pearl River group and fifth largest worldwide in terms of both in Asia and worldwide in the future too.
Delta region of southern China, is China’s flight size, according to IATA. The airline has
leading engine MRO shop and specializes in demonstrated strong growth over the past AAA: Please elaborate on expansion plans
V2500-A5 and CFM56-3, -5B and -7B MRO years, and brings a large baseload and license at the facility and planned future engine
services. With close to 2,000 engine shop access to the partnership. Furthermore, the types that will be added for MRO?
visits to date, it is one of the top maintenance Zhuhai shop has advanced machinery and MTU Maintenance has the advantage of a
players in Asia. applies the high-tech repair processes for global locations network and is prepared for
which MTU Maintenance has made a name the new generation of engines. For example,
What are the reasons that have for itself globally. MTU Maintenance Zhuhai the shop in Hannover, Germany, already has
contributed to the success of this facility? does about 80 percent of parts repair in- licensed MRO capability for the PW1100G.
The company is located in Zhuhai’s free house. Furthermore, capabilities such as MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is also planning
trade zone and benefits from its proximity high-velocity oxy-fuel plasma spraying, to step into next generation engine MRO
to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and high-pressure water stripping and source in due time, as their joint venture partner
Macao. Service teams can be dispatched demonstration repairs (V2500 rear shaft China Southern Airlines has ordered the new
to the customers in the region in no time. hard coating, V2500 drum 3-8 and V2500 technology for the A320neo and the 737max,
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is right in the drum 9-12) were recently added to its range as well as the locally-built C919. Overall,
hub of Asia’s aviation and has excellent of repairs. China is the fastest growing market in the
relations with the local government and world. We estimate that the market size in
municipality. The location profits greatly There will continue to be strong growth in revenue will grow by 16.9 percent by 2026. As
from the strengths of both partners: MTU CFM 56 engines in the region – how does MTU most visits will be performed on narrowbody
Maintenance is the largest independent Maintenance Zhuhai, aim to capitalise on this engines, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is ideally
engine maintenance provider worldwide and what is the infrastructure in place? placed to serve this growth.
and brings more than 35 years’ experience In order to meet the growing expectations
and technological knowledge to the of the Asian aviation market in particular –
table. Furthermore, MTU Maintenance being the largest and among the youngest
recognized the potential of this region in the world – MTU Maintenance Zhuhai
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