General Electric (GE) Aviation has announced a £20 million investment programme for its engine maintenance operation in Nantgarw.
The site has been chosen by the American firm to be the maintenance base for GE’s GE9X engine – the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient jet engine.
GE Aviation Wales was selected based on its wealth of technical expertise and its track record of continuous improvement.
The Welsh Government has committed £5m towards the investment.
The site, which employs more than 1,400 people, will benefit from the total £20m investment over the next five years to equip and upskill the facility to be ready to maintain the GE9X fleet when it enters service on the Boeing 777X aircraft.
Speaking on February 28, when news of the investment was announced, GE Aviation Wales Managing Director La-Chun Lindsay said: “This is a great day for Wales and particularly for our communities across the Valleys.”
“The GE9X will be the world’s largest engine and I’m incredibly proud that just as with the GE90 engine almost two decades ago, GE Aviation Wales has been chosen as the maintenance repair and overhaul facility.
“Adding the GE9X to our repertoire of engines will not only mean some £20m of investment into our Wales site, but will also support high-value manufacturing jobs.”
First Minister Carwyn Jones AM said: “I am delighted that the Welsh Government is supporting this very significant investment in one of our flagship operations.
“GE Aviation Wales is one of the largest aircraft engine maintenance facilities in the world, and today’s announcement ensures it will maintain its position as the global centre of excellence for wide bodied jet engines that will now also include GE’s latest engine, the GE9X.
“As an Anchor company, GE Aviation is of huge strategic importance to the Welsh economy with a world class reputation and extensive experience and capability. It’s tremendously good news that this investment will strengthen its long-term sustainability, preserve the scale of the facility and ensure its on-going competitiveness.
“The aviation facility has been in Nantgarw for 77 years and only recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of GE ownership so it is great news that the GE9X will ensure GE Aviation Wales remains at the forefront of the engine repair and overhaul sector for many years to come.”
The maintenance plant occupies over 1.2 million square feet of workshop space and has two state-of-the-art engine test facilities.
GE Aviation Wales, which has annual revenues of £2.26bn, is Wales’ largest industrial and its second largest overall.
Good news for the last remaining large industrial employer in Caerffili. Wales leaving the EU does not seem to have prevented inward investment by an American company. The Welsh government also have made the right decision in a good use of public money – investment in industry has always provided a knock on benefit for our local economy.
When did Thersa May trigger article 50?? I didn’t realise we had left the EU. Just a correction Britian are still in the EU at present and this could take years.
It could do, take years that is, but I hope not. The point is that the Americans know that we are certainly leaving and this has not prevented them from long term investment in Wales.
Hi Edward, the project fear mob said there would be an end to foreign investment “on a vote to leave”. We were told that “on a vote to leave” we would be in a recession the very same year – there was no recession last year. As a result those of us who campaigned to Leave very warmly welcome any investment and positive news which proves the scaremongers wrong.
Post-Brexit Boom yet again, great for local jobs, great for the Caerphilly economy. It’s not only GE in aerospace which has chosen to invest in the UK post-Brexit, Boeing announced just last week that they are to build their first ever European factory in the UK (Sheffield) with a £20m investment like here. McLaren also recently announced that they were investing £50 million in a factory in that area, what I would have liked to know is why Boeing and McLaren chose Sheffield and not Wales when we have great expertise here, Welsh Government need to answer that.
Nevertheless post-Brexit our UK economy is currently the fastest growing in the G7, exports were up 4.1% last quarter too. As for even more manufacturing investment just this week Dyson announced £2.5billion investment just across the bridge to double its UK operations.
When did Thersa May trigger article 50?? I didn’t realise we had left the EU. Just a correction Britian are still in the EU at present and this could take years, shows how much UKIP know about politics. Also this deal is only for 5 years it could take us this long to leave the EU. What a great strategy by this company they got 5 million straight away. I will bet when we do leave things will change
Large multi-national corporations make long-term strategic decisions. We are pleased yet to see that following the vote to leave the EU like us leave campaigners said investment would continue. The Remain side said that “on a vote” to leave – not actually when we left the UK would fall into recession and inward investment would stop. So please excuse us for singing from the rooftops for being right.
Richard and Sam you both say that britexit hasn’t affected anything and Britian is booming after leaving the EU, truth is we haven’t left the EU yet. We are still a member. Who know what will happen when we do leave, let’s not forget how much money the EU give our communities in the valley’s. I personally didn’t vote in the referdum because of the lies being told by both camps, which I continue to see. I am still undecided if it will be good. But let’s get one thing straight WE Britian have NOT left the EU yet. Let’s see what happends when we do leave. Before anyone says it I respect the decisions of the referendum and don’t thing we should have another vote.
I have never said that leaving the EU will not affect anyting Edward, I would not have voted to leave if I thought that nothing would change. I am looking forward to rejuvenated manufacturing, farming and fishing sectors in due course.
I base this assumption on several factors, we won’t be compelled to obey laws that are made by unelected commissioners that cannot be removed by ballot. We won’t have to wait until 27 other countries have debated what we should do when market conditions change or war is threatened, Britain will react faster to both threats and opportunities as a sovereign nation. We won’t have to pay vast sums to prop up the EU, I shall not get into the tiresome argument on exactly how many billions – I think all agree that we pay in more than we get back.