Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, Nov 27, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, Nov 27, 2002 |
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Logistics
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Events French aerospace co eyes India for manufacturing base Madhumathi D.S.
BANGALORE, Nov. 26 FRENCH aerospace major Snecma is planning to expand its small Indian presence by setting up a manufacturing base in the near term to make aircraft engines, components and spares. The possible investment in such a venture could be "well above euro 20 million" and the procedure may take at least 18 months, Mr Dominique Paris, Senior Vice-President, Propulsion, said here. "The manufacturing base we would like to establish would be for commercial and military-class aircraft as the technology, training or machine needed is the same," Mr Paris, who is here for a three-day EU-India Aero Technologies Summit, which opened on Tuesday, said. Snecma group company, Turbomeca, has a contract to supply over 200 of the powerful engines for HAL's advanced light helicopter (ALH) project. HAL and Snecma are also in talks for a possible 50:50 joint venture to manufacture engine components for the global market. However, the manufacturing plan "is something we want to do independently. We are just at the beginning of it and we don't know where it will be (located)," Mr Paris said. India, along with China, he said, occupies a priority position for the long term in the company's plans in the region. In China, it has facilities to manufacture landing gear and for engine repair. With its two core functions, propulsion and equipment, Snecma offers many opportunities of working together with Indian aerospace companies, he said. Only in May, the company set up Snecma Aerospace India, a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, and a design R&D centre in Bangalore with an initial investment of Rs 20 crore. The 50-strong R&D centre, which will cater to Snecma group companies globally, will study and develop engine components, aircraft equipment and onboard software and will be expanded to 100 engineers in the next two years. The European manufacturing giant currently caters to 1,700 airlines, helicopter operators and the armed forces globally. This year has been rather low due to dull commercial activity, but Mr Paris said, "The manufacturing activity is still at a high level" due to the peak of orders reached in early 2001. It has produced 750 CFM engines, over 600 helicopters and 500 landing gears.
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