Safran Inaugurates Safran Blades, a New Plant to Produce Engine Compressor Blades in Belgium

Safran has today announced the inauguration of Safran Blades, a new plant in Marchin, located in the Province of Liège, Belgium, that will produce compressor blades for aircraft engines. 

Safran's Stand at The Paris Air Show in 2023

On Tuesday (June 3, 2025), Safran announced the inauguration of Safran Blades, a new production facility in Marchin, located in the Province of Liège, Belgium, which will manufacture compressor blades for aircraft engines.  The opening ceremony was attended by Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of the Government of Wallonia, Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Walloon Minister of Economy and Industry, and Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran.  Safran Blades specializes in the manufacture of titanium compressor blades, a key component used in the hundreds in each aircraft engine.  Representing a €108 million investment, the new plant reinforces the industrial expertise of Safran Aero Boosters in their flagship product, the low pressure compressor.  Ultimately, the facility is expected to employ 150 highly-qualified team members.

In Tuesday’s announcement, Safran’s CEO, Olivier Andriès, said,

“Today, with Safran Blades, we are doing much more than just inaugurating a factory.  We are gaining a technological, industrial, and environmental head start.  This reasserts our intent to control our value chains while developing, alongside our Belgian partners, an aeronautics industry in Europe that is stronger, more innovative and more sustainable.” 

Safran Blades was founded in partnership with the public authorities of Wallonia and the Belgian Federation through Wallonie Entreprendre (28 percent), and the Belgian Federal Holding and Investment Company (SFPIM) – 16 percent, alongside Safran Aero Boosters (56 percent).

The new 10,000 square-meter center of excellence was constructed on former steel industry land that has been comprehensively cleaned and restored.  Safran partnered with Wallonia and Europe to develop a completely digitized plant that uses custom industrial resources and patented processes to enable large-scale production with unequalled manufacturing precision that reduces the margins of error.  The ‘Factory 4.0’ incorporates automation, robotics, connected objects, artificial intelligence, and massive data collection, which optimizes production, costs, and the environmental footprint.  Safran Blades will produce 700,000 titanium blades annually by 2026, especially for CMF International LEAP and GEnx engines that power Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Source: Safran