Pratt & Whitney Canada’s $10 million investment in the Wichita Falls facility aims to establish a new coating line utilizing an innovative technique for aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, has announced a significant $10 million investment to expand its engine component repair facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. This expansion is expected to create 30 new job opportunities. As part of the investment, the company plans to enhance its existing coatings line through the adoption of an innovative application process.
Since joining the Pratt & Whitney Canada family in 1997, the Wichita Falls component repair facility has established strong ties with the local community. Irene Makris, Vice President of Customer Service at Pratt & Whitney Canada, expressed their commitment to investing and growing in Wichita Falls due to the exceptional workforce, community support, and the dedicated and can-do attitude of the Wichita Falls team and leadership. The Wichita Falls facility will be the first among its plants to pioneer a new coating process that will significantly enhance engine durability and performance.
“The Wichita Falls component repair facility joined the Pratt & Whitney Canada family in 1997 and since then we have strengthened our ties with the local community,” said Irene Makris, vice president, Customer Service, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “We continue to invest and grow in Wichita Falls because of the strength of the local workforce, the support of the community, and the enthusiastic ‘can do’ attitude of our Wichita Falls team and leadership. Our Wichita Falls facility will be the first of our plants to pioneer a new coating process which will significantly improve the durability and performance of our engines,” she further added.
The facility specializes in repairing the “hot” (combustion) sections of various Pratt & Whitney Canada engines. During the repair process, specific engine parts, such as turbine blades, are coated with a special protective layer that withstands the high temperatures required for these high-performance engines. The $10 million investment aims to establish a new coating line utilizing an innovative technique.
“The City of Wichita Falls views companies like Pratt & Whitney as integral to the health of the local economy and our ability to foster well-paying jobs for our workforce,” said Stephen Santellana, Mayor, Wichita Falls. “The company and its employees here are very much involved in our community and in efforts to strengthen our social and economic infrastructure. We are delighted with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s decision to continue to grow in Wichita Falls and we are proud to support this investment in the facility to bring more work and more job opportunities to the City’s residents,” he further added.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is globally recognized for designing, building, and maintaining engines for various aviation purposes, ranging from general aviation to life-saving air medical and rescue operations. This year, the company celebrates a significant milestone of achieving 1 billion operating hours since its establishment in 1928. With over 110,000 engines produced to date, approximately 66,000 engines are currently in operation worldwide.
“Since acquiring the current facility in 1997, Pratt & Whitney Canada has worked diligently to expand both the plant’s capabilities and grow its workforce,” said Leo Lane, Chairman of the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation. “It is initiatives like today’s announcement that help us grow our aviation and aerospace sector, important for a city that is home to the Sheppard Airforce Base. We’re also mindful that Pratt & Whitney is a major supplier to our military and conducts recruitment programs geared to helping our veterans find their next mission as Pratt & Whitney employees,” he further added.
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Furthermore, Pratt & Whitney’s status as a major supplier to the military and its recruitment programs for veterans underscores the company’s contribution to helping veterans find their next mission as Pratt & Whitney employees. Construction for the facility expansion is set to commence before mid-2023, with completion expected by early 2025.
