SR Technics has begun expanding its presence at the engine shop in Zurich, Switzerland, following the signing of contracts in 2022 with IAE.
SR Technics, a world-leading MRO service provider, and Safran Test Cells, a unit of Safran Aero Boosters, have attained another milestone by beginning construction work on the reactivation of its second test cell at Zurich Airport (Switzerland).
SR Technics has begun expanding its presence at the engine shop in Zurich, Switzerland, following the signing of contracts in 2022 with IAE to join the international MRO network that maintains the brand-new Pratt & Whitney turbofan engine PW1100G-JM “GTF” and the conclusion of the General Support Licence Agreement for LEAP-1B with CFM International.
Jean-Marc Lenz, Chief Executive Officer at SR Technics said, “The groundbreaking is the first milestone of the growth path of SR Technics. Our goal is to double our business in the next five years. We are building infrastructure in Zurich, opening new production facilities and increasing our workforce with around 500 people within the next few years to extend our capabilities for the maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the GTF and LEAP engines.”
In collaboration with Flughafen Zurich AG, Safran Test Cells, and regional architects and engineers, SR Technics is modernising and redesigning its second test cell to meet aerodynamic and acoustic specifications, allowing for the testing of the new engine types: PW1100G-JM, LEAP-1A & -1B, as well as CFM56-5B & -7B.
Jérôme Morhet, Test Cells Senior Vice President at Safran Aero Boosters said, “It has been a very productive year working with the SR Technics team. We finalised the design of the test cell equipment and launched their manufacture. We also took a big step forward together by validating our initial theoretical hypothesis: rehabilitating a compact test cell to make it compatible with the new generations of engines. A great experience that has enabled us to consolidate our expertise in the refurbishment of compact test cells using our high-performance aero-acoustic solutions.”
With a capability to test more than 200 engines annually, the so-called “Test Cell 2” will be expanded to a seven by eight metre cross-section and equipped with cutting-edge data acquisition and measurement technologies.
“SR Technics’ commitment to Zurich as a location is very gratifying for Zurich Airport. Maintenance has a long tradition here and the planned further development will secure demanding technical jobs in Switzerland in the long term. We are therefore happy to develop the real estate and infrastructure along the requirements of our partners.” said Lydia Naef, Chief Real Estate Officer of Flughafen Zurich AG.
Additionally, Test Cell 2 was created by SR Technics and Safran Test Cells with consideration for the environment and sustainability, utilising energy-efficient equipment and cutting-edge technology like thermal waste heat recovery.
SR Technics, Safran Test Cells, and local planners are working together to handle this difficult project, which calls for close coordination between operations and the building site, in order to assure on-time commissioning and entry-into-service by mid-2024.
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Local construction companies will partially demolish and rebuild Test Cell 2 over the following few months as scheduled after the groundbreaking ceremony. In order to test each engine, Safran Test Cells will simultaneously provide and install all of the required aero-acoustic systems and components.
