Pratt & Whitney has transformed their West Palm Beach, Florida Engine Center into a fully-capable GTF MRO shop, expanding their global GTF network. The center is also Pratt's first MRO facility to adopt an automated high pressure compressor rotor assembly system.
Today (July 14, 2021), Pratt & Whitney announced the transformation of their West Palm Beach Engine Center into a fully capable GTF MRO shop, expanding the company’s GTF network and offering more capacity and capability, closer to customers. The engine center is also the first Pratt & Whitney facility to adopt an automated system for the assembly of the high pressure compressor rotor assembly with minimum variation and higher yield. The automated system delivers streamlined turn times and improved output reliability.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Pratt & Whitney’s Vice President – West Palm Beach Site Development and Operations, Mary Anne Cannon, said,
“This is more than just a shop; this is an investment in the future of our company to be even more customer-focused and customer-driven. All of the equipment and systems were designed with adaptability in mind. We took what we learned when we were an OEM shop and made refinements to ensure cost savings, efficiency, reduced turn times as well as capability and EH&S improvements along the way.”
Pratt & Whitney’s Vice President – MRO Centers, North America & Turkey, Global Operations Readiness, Rob Griffiths, added,
“It is critical that we arm our employees with the latest technologies and processes so that at the end of the day we most effectively uphold our commitments to our customers.”
Around 3.5 years ago, the opportunity presented itself to turn the existing OEM GTF business space at the West Palm Beach Engine Center into a small MRO shop, with the purpose of rapidly increasing capacity. While working out of the small space, and additional 100,000 square feet was made available, which was quickly transformed into a high-capacity full capability MRO shop.
Further commenting on the shop’s expanded capabilities, Pratt & Whitney’s General Manager, West Palm Beach MRO, Anthony Brodeur, said,
“Watching the ribbon cutting ceremony for our now fully-capable GTF MRO engine center was a remarkable moment. It marked the culmination of this unique journey we’d taken, from building infrastructure while operating out of a temporary location, to overcoming challenges brought on by the pandemic, to now having a shop in front of us that we collectively created. We are no longer a temporary relief shop. We are proud to be a full, heavy maintenance capable MRO facility that’s in a great position to better serve our customers for years to come.”
Pratt & Whitney’s growing GTF MRO network includes the industry’s leading MRO companies and is part of Pratt & Whitney’s EngineWise® service solutions. EngineWise provides operators with a range of aftermarket services, resulting in sustainable long-term value.
A division of Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE: RTX), Pratt & Whitney is a global leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines and auxiliary power units (APUs) for commercial, military, regional, business and general aviation aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is known for their innovative technologies such as the Geared Turbofan (GTF) commercial aircraft engine and the PW800 business jet engine. In 2020, the company celebrated their 95th year in business.
Source: Pratt & Whitney