PW6000 steams ahead: MTU delivers first production engine

Bernd Kessler, who in his capacity of MTU Aero Engines President and CEO for Commercial Maintenance is responsible for MTU Maintenance Hannover, noted: "This is a historic moment for our company. It is the first time in the company's annals that MTU has responsibility for final assembly under a commercial engine program." Final assembly is performed exclusively at MTU's affiliate in Langenhagen.

Kessler wanted it known that siting the assembly line in Langenhagen was not alone desirable for its immediate vicinity of the Airbus A318 assembly line in Hamburg: "Rather, it comes also as a strong vote of confidence and token of appreciation on the part of Pratt & Whitney, considering that final assembly normally is the domain of the prime manufacturers, which in our case would be Pratt & Whitney."

Totally, MTU Aero Engines has a 33 percent stake in the PW6000, contributing the low-pressure turbine and high-pressure compressor and performing final engine assembly. The compressor delivers outstanding efficiency and is the best in its class worldwide. It enabled the German engine manufacturer to launch into the select tough-to-crack commercial market of compressors, essentially the hearts of the engines. MTU boasts decades of compressor expertise in the military arena.

Launch customer of the A318 aircraft with PW6000 engines will be Chile's LAN Airlines. The South American airline expects to buy up to 45 of the aircraft and 90 engines.

MTU Maintenance Hannover is MTU Aero Engines' center of excellence for the maintenance of commercial engines in the midsize and large-thrust categories, supporting customers the world over. The Maintenance Group is the world's largest independent provider of commercial engine maintenance services and the global leader in the support of the popular V2500 engine. The Langenhagen location also is MTU's center of excellence for high-tech repair processes, cooperating closely with the Hannover Laser Center and further research institutes and universities.

MTU Aero Engines ranks among the world's major engine manufacturers and operates affiliates in all significant markets and regions. In fiscal 2005, it had some 6,700 employees and 2.15 billion euros in sales. The company closely collaborates with the world's biggest engine manufacturers, notably its strategic partner Pratt & Whitney, as well as General Electric and Rolls-Royce. In the military arena, MTU is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines flown by the country's services. Technologically at the leading edge of the engine business, the company excels foremost in low-pressure turbines and high-pressure compressors, engine control units and manufacturing and repair techniques.

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