Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL) is set to open a Component Maintenance Centre for aircraft in Northampton, UK, in September.

The centre will be located mid-way between MAEL’s Luton and Birmingham base maintenance facilities, and within a four hour drive of all the UK line maintenance stations operated by the company.

Funded by an investment of around £2m, the centre will be used for composite repairs, welding, machining, cadmium plating, bearing spinning, spraying, heat treatment hardness testing, and aircraft tooling.

The centre will also be equipped with emergency batteries to re-charge emergency power packs and batteries.

Led by MAEL Maintenance head Lee Burgess, the centre will employ 20 people and is expected to create ten new positions.

“Our new Northampton facility will enable us to more effectively and efficiently support our burgeoning line and base maintenance facilities across the UK.”

Monarch Aircraft Engineering managing director Chris Dare said: “Our new Northampton facility will enable us to more effectively and efficiently support our burgeoning line and base maintenance facilities across the UK.

“This multi-million pound investment in new facilities, equipment and, most importantly, skilled engineering talent, is an integral part of our long term growth plan and will play a vital role in our success in the years ahead.”

MAEL currently has permanent stations at nine airports across the UK to provide line maintenance support including all levels of maintenance on Airbus, Boeing, Embraer and Bombardier aircraft types.

Since its inception as an independent MRO provider last year, MAEL has reached various new agreements with several airlines including Virgin Atlantic Airways, China Airlines, Wizz Air, Iceland air and La Compagnie.