Safran

French-based aerospace company Safran has inaugurated a new facility Snecma America Engine Service (SAMES Rep) to repair engine parts in Querétaro, Mexico.

Established in an area of 10,000m², the new plant will provide a repairing facility to CFM International’s CFM56 engine parts, mostly used in Boeing 737 and various models of Airbus.

With its tenth plant in Mexico, Safran aims to provide local repair of high-tech engine parts and serve the American market.

Following an increase in production, the plant expects its workforce to grow from 75 to 150 employees.

Safran is also planning to establish its third plant in partnership with Albany in Querétaro, to produce composite parts for the new LEAP engine, the successor to the CFM56.

The decision to build the plant emerged after high orders for the new LEAP engine and requests from plane makers to increase production, especially for Boeing’s 737 MAX.

"Safran is the largest investor in Mexico’s aerospace industry and its leading employer, with nearly 6,000 employees."

Prior to its entry into service, which is expected in a few months, Safran received more than 10,000 orders for the LEAP engine.

To be constructed at an investment of $74m, the Safran / Albany factory will manufature propeller blades, reports Mexico News Daily.

In 2014, Safran and Albany opened two plants in Rochester, New Hampshire in the US and Commercy, eastern France.

The proposed plant in Querétaro expects to build LEAP engine parts for Boeing and other American plane makers, while the plant in Commercy will mainly make engines parts for Airbus jetliners in Europe.

By 2017, the plant intends to produce fan blades from 3D woven composites and more than 20,000 blades in the following year.

In order to ramp-up production, the plant will employ 500 employees.

Safran CEO Philippe Petitcolin said: "The inauguration of this new plant in Mexico and the upcoming construction of a third Safran / Albany facility in Queretaro clearly show this country’s importance in Safran’s international development strategy.

"Safran is the largest investor in Mexico’s aerospace industry and its leading employer, with nearly 6,000 employees.

"Because of the dynamic Mexican economy, coupled with a highly qualified workforce, we can provide closer support for our airline customers in the Americas and better meet their expectations in this fiercely competitive market."

Image: Safran inaugurates the new facility in Querétaro, Mexico. Photo: courtesy of Adam Wiseman / CAPA Pictures / Safran.