On 27th of February,The Polish affiliate of MTU Aero Engines, Germany’s engine manufacturer, officially opened its new 10,000-square-meter building, which increases the built-up area by 50 percent. The total investment that went into the project amounts to some 40 million euros.

The expansion of its location in Rzeszów in the south of Poland is part of MTU’s investment and growth strategy, very much in the same way as the new blisk production shop built in Munich and the new logistics centers set up in Hannover and in Munich. With the move, MTU is laying the foundation for the production and volume ramp-up for the new engine programs. The opening ceremony was attended by around 100 guests from politics, industry and science as well as by more than 500 employees of the company, which is located in the heart of Poland’s Aviation Valley.

“The new building in Rzeszów is another vital investment into our company’s future,” says MTU Chief Operating Officer Dr. Rainer Martens. “Our Polish location is already playing a key role in the MTU Group’s production activities. With the new building we are increasing capacities here in Poland to ensure the successful ramp-up for the geared turbofan programs.”

For the game-changing PW1000G family of geared turbofan engines, which will power the Airbus A320neo and other aircraft, the Rzeszów facility will produce components and perform preparatory work. Furthermore, the new buildings will house the shop floors where the work associated with the increase of MTU’s stake in the V2500 for the Airbus A320 will be carried out. In addition, the company will step up its low-pressure turbine assembly activities and concentrate them in Rzeszów. Assembly work is due to start these days and the facility is expected to operate at full capacity by 2017. Moreover, plans are to beef up research and development at the Polish plant. In the early years, the Rzeszow engineering team mainly acted as an engineering service supplier for the colleagues in Munich, today they conduct development projects on their own responsibility.

MTU’s investment in the Polish location underlines the importance attributed to it by its parent, according to Managing Director Krzysztof Zuzak. “MTU Aero Engines Polska was set up near Rzeszów Airport nearly six years ago; since then its workforce has grown from 200 to more than 500 employees. We can rightly be proud of the success achieved by now,” says Zuzak. As a result of the expansion, the location’s staff will be further increased: By 2020, some 250 new jobs will be created in Rzeszów.

MTU’s affiliate in Poland’s Aviation Valley currently focuses on development and manufacturing activities, production of components, module assembly and parts repair. In addition, MTU Aero Engines Polska develops and manufactures low-pressure turbine components and airfoils for the GP7000, V2500, PW300 and PW500 engines as well as for the LM6000 series of industrial gas turbines. The company also assembles the low-pressure turbines for the V2500, PW300 and PW500 engines. Another field of expertise is the repair of engine parts, such as tubing and various other accessory parts. The location is involved in the entire value chain from development through to manufacture and repair.