It plans a third facility at aerospace park - an engine fan blade plant
By
Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent
Sir John Rose, Rolls-Royce Chief Executive, said: 'Singapore has become a vitally important centre for the Group's operations and this latest investment in wide chord fan blade capability reflects our continuing confidence in Singapore as a place to locate high value-added manufacturing.' -- PHOTO: BT
IN A major boost to Singapore's aerospace ambitions, Rolls-Royce plans to build a new facility here to make engine fan blades for large aircraft - its first such plant outside England.
Also in the pipeline for the company: A new regional training centre here.
The projects will be built at the Seletar Camp which is being transformed into Singapore's future aviation hub, Seletar Aerospace Park.
The latest plans take to more than $700 million the total amount that the British power systems and engines giant is pumping into the park. It did not disclose a separate figure for the engine fan blade plant.
Two years ago, Rolls-Royce announced it would build a $320 million factory at Seletar - the first plant in Asia to manufacture and test engines for big commercial planes such as the Boeing 787.
But the economic downturn delayed those plans. Construction of all three facilities - the two factories and the training centre - will now start in the first quarter of next year.
When the projects are completed in a few years, Rolls-Royce, which now employs about 1,400 people here, will increase its head count to 2,000, its regional director, Singapore, Mr Jonathan Asherson told The Straits Times on Tuesday.
Rolls-Royce staff now based at the International Business Park in Jurong and Nanyang Technological University will also move out of those premises into their new Seletar home, he said.
Despite the current business slowdown, the company is confident that it is the right time to invest, and Singapore is where it wants to be, Mr Asherson said, adding that the future prospects for the industry remain strong.
In a statement issued yesterday to announce its new investment here, Rolls- Royce chief executive Sir John Rose said: 'Singapore has become a vitally important centre for the group's operations and this latest investment in wide chord fan blade capability reflects our continuing confidence in Singapore as a place to locate high value-added manufacturing.'
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
