Home / News / French President inaugurates Safran & Albany JV plant

French President inaugurates Safran & Albany JV plant

26 Nov '14

2 min read

President of France, François Hollande inaugurated a new production plant in Commercy in Eastern France, which is a joint venture between Safran and Albany International.

The plant makes parts for new-generation aircraft engines using an innovative composite material technology.

The first application of this new technology is the production of fan blades and cases for the Leap aircraft engine from CFM International.

This CFM engine will power the next generation of single-aisle commercial jets, including the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX.

The joint venture has already recruited more than 90 employees, and by 2018, it will have 400 employees on a 25 acre site, which includes 27,000 square meters of built-up space.

The Leap engine incorporates advanced technologies in its aerodynamic design, materials and environmental protection measures.

The 3D woven composite parts made by Safran and Albany are very strong and light, which will help reduce the Leap's fuel consumption by 15 per cent compared with current CFM engines.

Chosen to power new-generation single-aisle commercial jets, the Leap is already very successful, having recorded over 7,800 orders to date, which equals more than five years of production for Safran.

"This new plant reflects a deeply anchored and shared vision and mutual trust between industry and government," said Jean-Paul Herteman, CEO at Safran.

Joseph Morone also CEO at Albany added, "This plant, the concrete symbol of the partnership between Safran and Albany, is the first of its type in the aerospace industry.”

“The manufacturing technology that is being applied here on an industrial scale, and the products designed with this technology, are truly innovative,” he informed.

The two partners also inaugurated a twin plant in Rochester, New Hampshire, in the US, which too will produce the same 3D woven composite parts for the LEAP engine.

Safran and Albany have invested a total of $200 million in these plants.

Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses; Aerospace (propulsion and equipment), Defence and Security.

Operating worldwide, the Safran Group has 66,300 employees and generated sales of €14.7 billion in 2013.

Albany International is a global advanced textiles and materials processing company, with two core businesses; Machine Clothing and Albany Engineered Composites. (AR)

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French President inaugurates Safran & Albany JV plant

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