SAESL breaks ground on new SGD60M facility extension

Incoming CEO Gary Nutter to oversee development of new facility

Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL), which specialises in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of Rolls-Royce Trent aero engines, today broke ground on the site for a new two-storey, 12,000 Sq M development located at Calshot Road in Changi, Singapore.

This will significantly increase the facility’s capacity when completed by the end of 2009. SAESL is a joint venture between SIA Engineering Company, Rolls-Royce and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited.

The new development, to be built at a cost of SGD60M (US$43M) will integrate with the existing building and enhance SAESL’s service offerings and build on the company’s position as a Trent Centre of Excellence.

Currently, SAESL has expertise in maintaining the successful family of Rolls-Royce Trent aero engines, namely the Trent 500, 700 and 800 which power the A340, A330 and Boeing 777 respectively. SAESL is also the lead facility for the Trent 900, the engine chosen by Singapore Airlines for its A380 aircraft, the world’s largest passenger aircraft to date. Singapore Airlines is the first airline in the world to operate the A380 aircraft.

The ceremony also marked another significant milestone for SAESL as it officially welcomed its new Chief Executive Officer, Gary Nutter, who assumes his role in February 2008 from outgoing CEO John Horsburgh. John Horsburgh has assumed another position within Rolls-Royce, as the Chief Operating Officer of the company’s Facility of the Future to be located at the new Seletar Aerospace Park in Singapore.

Combined, the ceremony represents three aspects of SAESL’s future, namely:

1. the official ground breaking of a new two storey, 12,000 Sq M, SG$60M (US$43M) development at Calshot Road in Changi, Singapore

2. the arrival of the new Chief Executive Officer, Gary Nutter

3. the linking of the original and new buildings enabling a continuous flow of operations

Gracing the occasion was Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the presence of Mr Stephen Lee, Chairman of Singapore Airlines Engineering Company as well as Singapore Airlines, and Sir John Rose, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce, together with distinguished guests, key customers and partners.

Said Mr Lee, “SAESL’s decision to expand its capacity, develop new capabilities in component repair, and introduce the Trent XWB overhaul capability continues to build on its stellar track record. As the only engine overhaul facility worldwide with the capability to service the entire Trent series of engines currently, the expansion strengthens Singapore’s position as a leading location for engine overhaul.”

Miles A Cowdry, Chairman of SAESL said, “The development is a reflection of SAESL’s success in the past six years of operation. That success stems from a combination of customer satisfaction with our service, shareholder satisfaction with our results and employee satisfaction demonstrated by the “Can Do” reputation of the company.”

“The new facility, including some re-location in the existing building, will allow SAESL to grow in terms of engines and modules overhauls and component repairs. The result of which will be the ability to take on additional Rolls-Royce Trent engines types to complement the present capability. The aforesaid growth will require our employment number to keep growing,” he added.

The new facility

When completed by 2009, the new development will enable growth in SAESL’s capability in the number of Trent engine variants beyond that of Trent of 500, 700, 800 and 900. The new facility will also increase the capacity of the number of engines and modules that SAESL can deliver to its customers, as well as strengthen its component repair capability.

The groundbreaking event

To lend ambiance and atmosphere to the event, a percussion group comprising fifty drummers from all departments within SAESL has resumed their roles from the ‘SAESL Beat 500’ held in January 2007, with specially choreographed performances.


Notes to Editor:

1. Incorporated in 1999, SAESL is a S$185 million (US$109 million) joint venture between SIA Engineering Company, Rolls-Royce and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL). SAESL commenced operations in 2001 as a Trent Centre of Excellence, specialising in servicing and overhauling the successful family of Rolls-Royce Trent aero engines, namely the Trent 500, 700 and 800 which power the A340, A330 and Boeing 777 respectively.

2. SAESL is also the lead shop for the maintenance, overhaul and repair of the Trent 900, the lead engine for Singapore Airlines’ A380 aircraft, the world’s largest passenger aircraft to date.

3. Strategically located near Singapore Changi Airport, SAESL’s current 18,000 Sq M purpose-built repair facility has been instrumental in providing support to an international customer base of airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Emirates, Thai Airways, Malaysian Airlines and Garuda.

4. Most recently, SAESL celebrated the successful completion of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its 500th Rolls-Royce Trent engine 18 months ahead of schedule in January 2007. That milestone also marked the completion of SAESL’s fifth year of operations and the expansion of the business to over 550 employees, 90 per cent of whom are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

For more information please contact: James Acheson-Gray / Shorbani Roy / Peter McFeely Grayling Tel: +65 6325 4606 / Fax: +65 6325 4616 Mob: +65 9794 2401 (Shorbani) / +65 9448 9720 (Peter) Email: jag@sg.grayling.com shorbani.roy@sg.grayling.com peter.mcfeely@sg.grayling.com