Friday, July 31, 2009

Rolls-Royce to build new factory in Singapore


Source : Channel NewsAsia – 28 Jul 2009

Engine maker Rolls-Royce plans to build a new factory in Singapore making wide chord fan blades (WCFBs) used in military and commercial aircraft engines.

The plant will be located at its Seletar Campus site alongside a previously announced facility, which will test and assemble Trent aero engines.

Total investment in the Seletar Campus, including the new factory, will exceed S$700 million or 300 million pounds.

The new plant will create 500 new jobs, bringing the total number of people employed in Singapore by Rolls-Royce to about 2,000.

It will be the first factory outside the United Kingdom to manufacture Rolls-Royce hollow titanium WCFBs.

Construction of the facilities at the Seletar Campus will begin in the first quarter of next year.

Rolls-Royce chief executive John Rose said the latest investment “reflects our continuing confidence in Singapore as a place to locate high value-added manufacturing.”

The investment adds further depth to Singapore’s aerospace industry, complementing Singapore’s status as an aerospace Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) expects the Rolls-Royce campus to attract other aerospace companies and suppliers to undertake component manufacturing in Singapore.

Leo Yip, chairman of EDB said: “The Rolls-Royce campus taking shape at Seletar is testament to the very strong partnership between Rolls-Royce and Singapore.

“The campus underlines the attractiveness of Seletar Aerospace Park as a cradle for new opportunities in the aerospace sector, where synergies arise from the clustering and integration of activities across the supply chain.

“Rolls-Royce’s latest investments also reflect how companies can leverage on Singapore’s position as a leading global aerospace hub to drive business growth, especially in Asia.”


No comments: