Despite the economic crisis, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, a 50:50 joint venture of MTU Aero Engines, Germany's leading aero engine manufacturer, and China Southern Airlines, China's largest carrier, started the expansion of its plant in Zhuhai's free trade zone end of August. The expansion adds almost another 10.000 sqm of building area to the companies premises and allows to cater for more growth.
Under the supervising eyes of Holger Sindemann, General Manager of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, and the company's Vice General Manager, Wang Gang, the construction work started and marked a milestone in the company's further development. With an investment of about 60 million RMB the 2-phase project is expected to be completed in February 2012 and will guarantee stability of production despite of construction activities.
"The step 1, creating a multifunctional plant to store engines and other parts, conduct technical training and host customers, is a must for the companies further development as the capacity was already reached in 2008", said Sindemann. He added: "Step 2 will be the extension of the main repair shop which will significantly help to streamline the current process flow on the shop floor and to allow MTU Maintenance Zhuhai to overhaul close to 300 engines per year".
Other advantages of the expansion project were pointed out by Wang Gang. "Not only we will have a shorter turn-around time but also the higher capacity will allow us to expand our customer basis. Furthermore the new multifunctional plant will run on an almost 30% lower energy level. This will besides saving money on energy cost contribute to protect the environment as there will be a modern and flexible adjustment system for air conditioning."
The ceremony was attended by Cheng Jingfeng, Director of Zhuhai Huachen Supervision & Consulting Company, Zhou Yousheng, Engineer at Changsha Ground Investigation Institute, Gu Yuelin, Engineer at Zhuhai Planning Design Institute, Zhai Minghai, Engineer, Quality Inspection Office of Zhuhai Construction Bureau and Ye Yanqing, General Manager of Guangdong Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd. Zhuhai.
Spreading over 156,000 square meters, the MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is located in the Zhuhai free trade zone and benefits from the proximity to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Macao; repair teams can be dispatched to the customers in the region in no time. The Zhuhai shop has an advanced machine park and strictly lives by the motto adopted by MTU Maintenance: "Repair Beats Replacement". It applies the high-tech repair processes for which MTU Aero Engines and MTU Maintenance have made a name for themselves around the globe.
MTU Aero Engines is Germany's leading engine manufacturer and operates locations in Germany, Canada, China, and Poland. With a workforce of some 7,500 people, MTU Aero Engines in fiscal 2008 had more than 2.7 billion euros in consolidated sales. Technologically an industry leader worldwide, the company excels in low-pressure turbines and high-pressure compressors, as well as manufacturing and repair processes. MTU has globally established itself as a partner of choice, working with the world's prime engine manufacturers General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to develop the propulsion system technologies of the future. This year, the German engine builder is celebrating its 75th anniversary: Its official legal prede-cessor is BMW Flugmotorenbau GmbH, which was set up in Munich in 1934.
Source: avbuyer.com.cn
