Rolls-Royce to launch Asia’s first engine facility

Rolls-Royce is cementing its name in Asia, with the region's first engine assembly and test facility to be set up here.

The company, which provides MRO services to Singapore's A380 engines, said its new facility will produce engines in the Trent series, the Trent 100 for the Boeing 787 and the Trent XWB for the Airbus A350 XWB.

It is also the first to assemble and test engines for large commercial aircraft before being sent to Boeing and Airbus for installation on aircraft.

"This is the first time ever that large civil aero-engines will be manufactured in Asia," said Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang at the groundbreaking. "This is therefore a landmark project for Singapore and marks a major breakthrough for our aerospace industry."

The aerospace industry achieved a record output of S$6.9billion last year.

The US$220 million investment is scheduled for completion in 2009.