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SINGAPORE: Rolls-Royce has officially started construction of its S$700 million Asian campus at Singapore's Seletar Aerospace Park.
The campus includes a facility to assemble and test for the company's mainstay Trent aero engine, a factory for wide chord fan blades used in aircraft engines and a regional training centre. It will also house its Advanced Technology Centre, currently at Nanyang Technological University.
Rolls-Royce said it may further invest more to increase production, and is also considering the possibility of doing original design work in Singapore.
The Seletar campus is part of plans for a supply chain in Asia, a growth market for Rolls Royce.
Jonathan Asherson, regional director, Southeast Asia, Rolls-Royce Singapore said: "The decision to build the facility in Singapore and in Asia has been our choice.
"It is very much linked to being near our customers, and Asia is the fastest growing region for us in our industry. And therefore, being next to that future customer as we grow is an important factor."
Rolls-Royce said that it will gradually ramp up production of the fan blades to about 6,000 units at full capacity. And when that happens, the company will consider expanding the factory to increase production by about 25 per cent.
Rolls-Royce may also perform original design work in Singapore.
The multi-million dollar investment is expected to generate spinoffs for the local aerospace industry.
Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang said: "We hope to build on Rolls-Royce's rapidly expanding base in Singapore to attract more companies to broaden the base of aerospace suppliers.
"Many suppliers are already serving sophisticated industries with rigorous requirements similar to aerospace industry, such as medical technology and oilfield services. These suppliers are well-positioned to expand into the aerospace sector."
The first building of the new campus is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, with the rest to be ready by mid-2012.
With respect to increased competition in the aerospace sector, Rolls-Royce said that it does not feel threatened, and instead welcomes its competitors to set up shop in its markets.
Mr Asherson said: "If more manufacturers come to Singapore and the rest of the region, that will be a benefit to everybody. I think the critical mass that gives to logistics companies, to suppliers, to us the service providers, is beneficial to everybody."
- CNA/vm/sc
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