Messier Bugati Dowty inaugurates new plant in Malaysia

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, Safran Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Paul Herteman said “We are proud to inaugurate this new plant, the first of its type in Asia, which will support our business growth in the region. Malaysia is one of the world’s most promising aviation hubs, and by expanding our operations here we are consolidating our strong market position in the Asia-Pacific.”

He also thanked the Malaysian government, the State of Negeri Sembilan and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) for their support towards the project.

The new plant will complement the two existing carbon disk facilities in France and another in the United States and will meet the needs in this region, where the aircraft fleet is recording strong growth.

The plant covering 10,000 square meters (108,000 sq ft) would focus on the production of carbon brakes for commercial airplanes, particularly the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families of single-aisle jets. Expected to be fully operational in 2017, the plant would produce some 10,000 brakes for the global market and by 2018, the plant is expected to create some 150 jobs, Herteman said.

Currently, Safran supplies carbon brakes for over 2,000 airplanes in Asia and has provided equipment to more than 6,000 commercial airplanes globally.

The new facility will boost Safran’s presence in Malaysia, together with facilities operated by two other Safran companies, Morpho in the security sector and Turbomeca in helicopter engines.

Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohamad Hasan, said the state has the required facilities and resources to attract investors and make the state a preferred site for investments.

Also present at the event were the two sons of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz and Tunku Zain Al-bidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz and the French Ambassador to Malaysia, Christophe Penot.

Source: NST Business Times 16 Jan 2015 and Safran website