The Safran Blades facility, covering approximately 10,000 square meters, will focus on producing compressor blades used in Safran Aero Boosters’ aircraft modules.
Safran Aero Boosters on August 28th, 2023, held a significant event – the laying of the first stone for their new aircraft engine compressor blade plant, Safran Blades, located on a former ArcelorMittal site in the Province of Liège, Belgium. This event marked a major step in the creation of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for aircraft engine components. The project is a collaboration involving various entities, including Belgian and Walloon federal authorities, Wallonie Entreprendre (WE), and the Belgian Federal Holding and Investment Company (S.F.P.I.M), with Safran Aero Boosters as the majority shareholder (56%).
The ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Willy Borsus, Vice-President of Wallonia, Thomas Dermine, Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments, and Christie Morreale, Minister for Employment. The creation of Safran Blades was initially announced in December 2022 by François Lepot, CEO of Safran Aero Boosters, and involves an investment of €50 million.
The Safran Blades facility, covering approximately 10,000 square meters, will focus on producing compressor blades used in Safran Aero Boosters’ aircraft modules. With a daily production target of 2,000 blades, this center of excellence will play a critical role in Safran’s supply chain. As part of Safran’s commitment to technological advancement, the Factory 4.0 will feature cutting-edge digital resources, including automation, connected objects, artificial intelligence, and more. The facility is expected to employ around a hundred people and is set to be operational by 2025.
“We are developing this next-generation plant in conjunction with innovative Walloon companies,” said Mathieu Deladrière, CEO, Safran Blades. “Thanks to a robust and agile local ecosystem, we will be able to relocate this industrial activity to Walloon,” he further added.
The construction and renovation work for the facility has been entrusted to Galère, and the building permit is anticipated to be obtained in August, followed by the commencement of construction work in September 2023. A notable aspect of the Safran Blades project is its close collaboration with various Walloon companies, forming an agile and innovative ecosystem that will drive its success.
To enhance its capabilities, Safran Blades is partnering with two research centers: CRM, for the development of forge tool control skills, and Sirris, for contactless real-time control skills.
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The project will also involve working closely with five specialized companies, each contributing expertise in specific fields:
1. ID will implement a standard cell adaptable to various production types, integrating mechanical, automation, and verification expertise.
2. Indutec will develop a water-jet cutting cell akin to digital controls in precision, speed, and accuracy.
3. Smartyou will deploy an IT production management system (MES) tailored for SMEs, acting as a workshop coordinator.
4. Rovitech will create an automated decision-making tool and non-destructive quality control processes.
5. With information collected and the help of Pepite, an artificial intelligence will be developed to predict non-quality production and adjust tools in real time.
6. Overall, Safran Blades represents a major investment in advanced manufacturing technology and collaboration that is set to significantly contribute to the aerospace industry in the region.
