Bangkok - GE Elano Asia Ltd., an affiliate recently established by the GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) division of the General Electric Company (GE), today announced that it has committed to invest more than Bht 3,000 million (approximately US$ 69 million) over the next eight years in a three-phase project to set up in Thailand Asia's largest aerospace tubing, ducting and configuration components manufacturing and servicing facility. This marks the second aerospace-related investment by a GE business in Thailand announced this month.
The facility will be located at the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong province.
Mr. John H. Grosvenor, Jr., Managing Director of GE Elano Asia Ltd., said, "We are the first manufacturer in this field in Thailand, and we will be introducing know-how in aerospace technology."
"We chose Thailand because of the long-standing relationships we have had with airlines in the region. We believe that locating this major facility here will help us serve them better. The Board of Investment's support has also been a key factor in our decision."
He said that GE Elano Asia would be a centre "supporting airlines and overhaul facilities in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand".
The total facility will span 10,000 square-metres, be capable of producing over 300,000 pieces of aviation-quality components annually, and provide employment for more than 100 aerospace-grade technicians, welders and inspectors.
The first phase of the project, comprising 6,800 square-metres, is expected to become operational at the end of March 2002.
Earlier this month, Mr. Stuart Dean, National Executive for GE in Thailand and President of GE Southeast Asia, reported that MRAS (Asia) Ltd., another GE affiliate, will upgrade the capabilities of its Bht 400 million (approximately US$ 9.2 million) aircraft support centre in U-Tapao with an investment of around Bht 66 million (approximately US$ 1.5 million). The upgrade will enhance the capabilities of the facility to repair, overhaul, and finish thrust reversers for large jet aircraft engines, and "improve the competitiveness of Thailand in services that were, in the past, mostly provided in North America," according to Mr. Dean.
GE is one of Thailand's largest foreign investors with investments of over Bht 40,000 million (approximately US$ 919 million) in the fields of plastics compounding, the manufacturing of silane-monomers and siloxanes (the essential materials used in the production of silicone end-products), medical systems, financial services, and jet aircraft engine support services.
Elano Corporation is the world's foremost designer and manufacturer of metallic tube and duct systems for aerospace.