Rolls-Royce took the first step towards its S$320 million (US$225 million) Trent aero engine facility in Singapore with a groundbreaking ceremony at the new Seletar Aerospace Park. The Facility of the Future will be the most modern Rolls-Royce production engine assembly and test facility for large commercial aero engines, and its first in Asia. The facility will operate on lean assembly and flowline operating principles developed by Rolls-Royce over the last decade. This will result in significant operational efficiencies and improved service quality.
In addition to its technological advances, the facility will be built according to the ‘Green Mark’ standard, the benchmark set by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority to recognise best practices in environmental design and performance, reducing potential environmental impact and improving sustainability. The facility will be a breakthrough for the aerospace industry in Asia. Engines for large commercial aircraft will be assembled and tested in Singapore before being sent to Boeing and Airbus for installation on aircraft. Scheduled for completion in 2009, the Facility of the Future will produce engines in the Trent series, the Trent 1000 for the Boeing 787 and the Trent XWB for the Airbus A350 XWB. The facility, the development of which was announced in November 2007, also enables Rolls-Royce to be closer to its long-term partner Singapore Airlines, whose fleet will now include engines assembled in Singapore.
Sir John Rose, Rolls-Royce Chief Executive, said: “Our world-class Facility of the Future at Seletar Aerospace Park will break boundaries in terms of operational and environmental efficiency and be our distinctive showcase in Asia.”
A tree was planted to signify the commitment of Rolls-Royce to the environment. The event was attended by John Horsburgh, Chief Operating Officer (Aerospace Singapore), Rolls-Royce and was presided over by Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang. The announcement is a significant boost for the aerospace industry in Singapore where Rolls-Royce currently accounts for 15 per cent of the country’s aerospace output and five percent of the total aerospace industry workforce. Rolls-Royce currently employs over 1,200 people in Singapore, and expects to hire another 330 staff for the facility.
Speech by Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang
I am delighted that Rolls-Royce has selected Singapore for this significant project, which is not only a first for Singapore but also a first for Asia. This is the first time ever that large civil aero-engines will be manufactured in Asia. This is therefore a landmark project for Singapore and marks a major breakthrough for our aerospace industry. Since the 1950s when it first set up its representative office in Singapore, Rolls-Royce has been our partner in progress, growing in tandem with our economy through the decades. Starting with only a handful of employees, Rolls-Royce today employs more than a 1000 people in Singapore and has activities ranging from aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), marine systems, power generation and fuel cells. When Rolls-Royce first arrived in Singapore, the aerospace industry was only in its infancy. In recent years, however, the industry has been one of the fastest growing with an average annual growth rate of 13% since 1990 and today, Singapore has the highest concentration of aerospace OEMs in the Asia-Pacific. In 2007, the aerospace industry achieved a record output of S$6.9b, and the Singapore government is clearly committed to its continued growth. Through its investments in state-of-the-art aerospace operations, Rolls-Royce has contributed significantly to raising Singapore’s aerospace capabilities and enhancing Singapore’s status as a global aerospace hub. Rolls-Royce’s Aero-Engine Assembly and Test Facility is thus a major step forward in taking our aerospace industry to a new level.
In coming to its decision to locate its aero-engine assembly plant in Singapore, Rolls-Royce undertook a rigorous investigation. Several locations were considered; understandably competition was keen and the decision was arrived at after a careful evaluation process. I am told that several factors worked in favour of Singapore. These include the quality and strong work ethic of our people; our strong technology orientation coupled with a deep understanding and practice of lean manufacturing processes; our excellent logistics infrastructure and connectivity and, finally, our total cost competitiveness. These are critical factors for what Rolls-Royce envisages to be their “Facility of the Future” – which will set new benchmarks for productivity and quality in aircraft engine manufacturing. We see strong growth potential for the aerospace industry and are taking the necessary steps to develop our infrastructure, manpower and technology capabilities in this sector. For example, in 2007, we announced our decision to develop the 300 hectare Seletar Aerospace Park. While land is always a valuable resource in Singapore, we wanted to ensure that we have sufficient land for the aerospace industry to grow here. Today, I am delighted that we are present here at the Seletar Aerospace Park for the groundbreaking of a facility that marks a new chapter for our Aerospace industry.
I want to thank Rolls-Royce for their trust and confidence in Singapore. It is a confidence that stems from a partnership that spans many decades. In fact, in 2006, Rolls-Royce received EDB's Distinguished Partner in Progress award for its contributions to Singapore's economic development. This project marks another milestone in the close partnership between Rolls Royce and Singapore. We will work together with you to make this plant in Singapore a roaring success and look forward to the day when ‘Made-in-Singapore’ engines will grace the heavens.
Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) unveiled its new 530,000-square-foot aircraft component and systems maintenance and repair campus on Wednesday February 20, 2008 during the Singapore Airshow 2008. The official opening event was attended by Goodrich's customers, industry teammates, senior executives and other guests from the Singapore Economic Development board and the aerospace community. The new campus, located next to Changi Airport, brings together several Goodrich service businesses under one roof and adds an additional 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space. It offers a full range of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for components and systems for both commercial and military aerospace customers from across Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim. Services will cover a broad range of aircraft including new and future models such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. MRO capabilities include aircraft nacelle systems, flight controls, cargo systems, engine controls and components, actuation systems and aircraft evacuation systems. As well as providing MRO services to the region's airlines and military fleets, the facility is performing original equipment manufacturing as well as research and development activities. Recent projects include designing, developing and producing the fan cowl for the Geared Turbofan test engine. The campus represents a $23 million investment by Goodrich. It currently employs roughly 700 people and is the corporation's largest MRO campus.
According to Cindy Egnotovich, Segment President for Goodrich Nacelles and Interior Systems, "This is a significant event for Goodrich in the region. The new site is strategically located to serve our Asian and Pacific customers and provide a range of services which spans Goodrich's diverse original manufactured equipment. For our customer it's all about enhancing the speed and ease of doing business with us by providing the right assets in the right place at the right time."
