Safran has opened a new facility in Sendayan, Malaysia, to produce carbon brakes for commercial aircraft.

Located near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the plant will allow the company to serve the increasing demand in the Asia-Pacific region and is said to be its first-of-its-kind in the region.

The 10,000m² facility will primarily produce carbon brakes for the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families of single-aisle airliners. It is expected to employ around 150 people by 2018.

"Malaysia is one of the world’s most promising aviation hubs, and by expanding our operations here we are consolidating our strong market position in the Asia-Pacific."

Safran chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Herteman said: "Malaysia is one of the world’s most promising aviation hubs, and by expanding our operations here we are consolidating our strong market position in the Asia-Pacific."

Safran’s subsidiary Messier-Bugatti-Dowty will manage the operations at the plant, which was built with an investment of $130m.

The company specialises in landing and braking systems, and provides equipment for more than 6,000 commercial aircraft worldwide.

In Malaysia, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty works with 18 different operators and outfits around 200 aircraft in service, with equipment for another 400 on order.

The Sendayan plant complements the company’s existing carbon disk facilities in France and the US.

Previously this month, Safran’s subsidiary Hispano-Suiza announced plans to build engine components facility in Poland, to serve LEAP and Silvercrest engine programmes.