Lufthansa Technik and MTU Aero Engines joint venture EME Aero has purchased a new building site in Aviation Valley, Jasionka, Poland, to develop a maintenance, repair, operations (MRO) service facility for the aerospace industry.

Due to be complete by May this year, the new maintenance facility will be able to handle more than 400 shop visits from PW1000G-series geared turbofan engines each year. The engines power the Airbus A320neo family of aircraft and other airliners.

EME Aero seeks to employ 800 people and is expected to be operational by 2020.

The owners of EME Aero plan to invest approximately €150m in the region over the next two years.

“EME Aero marks the second major move for Lufthansa Technik in the expansion of its activities in Poland.”

EME Aero COO Uwe Zachau said: “The acquisition of the land marks a key milestone for us. Now we can press ahead at full speed with the construction of the new joint shop.”

In 2009, MTU Aero Engines Polska opened a maintenance shop in Rzeszów, Poland. It started work to expand the facility in 2013.

The company also oversees the assembly of the low-pressure turbine for PW1000G-series engines, a capability added to its portfolio in 2015.

EME Aero marks the second major move for Lufthansa Technik in the expansion of its activities in Poland.

In September last year, the company laid the foundation stone for its joint venture with GE Aviation in Środa Śląska, Poland, for the overhaul of GEnx-2B engines and GE9X engines.

Last month, Lufthansa Technik’s Chinese venture Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen announced the development of new facilities to support several of the latest aircraft types, including Airbus A350, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787.