Pratt & Whitney investing $1B in R&D to develop new jet engines
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Canada's federal government gave $300 million to help support P&WC's R&D initiative
MISSISSAUGA, Ont.—Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) will will invest over $1 billion in research and development (R&D) over the next 4.5 years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines.
P&WC will spread the money between its Longueuil, Que., and Mississauga, Ont., facilities.
The announcement came as Ottawa announced a $300-million investment in the company. The government says the money will help maintain 1,500 jobs over the next five years.
“The Government of Canada’s investment enables P&WC to invest over $1 billion overall to pursue its long-standing legacy of innovation and sustain its engineering and manufacturing Centres of Excellence in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia,” said John Saabas, president of P&WC. “The Government of Canada’s continued commitment to the aerospace industry will help support high-quality job opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers in Canada and allow P&WC to continue to be an innovative leader in the industry.”
The contribution by the government is a $300-million repayable contribution through its Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative.
“Our government’s top priorities are the economy, and supporting jobs and opportunities for Canadian families through innovation. This investment will support over 6,000 high-quality Canadian jobs and countless others across Canada,” said Minister of Industry James Moore.
P&WC is developing advanced propulsion technologies it claims will reduce fuel consumption and weight, lower emissions and cut noise.
These technologies will be leveraged across the company’s new and existing turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft engines in business, regional and general aviation and helicopter applications.
P&WC is also currently investing $275 million over five years in cutting-edge technologies and upgrades to its facilities, including the creation of a world-class Centre of Excellence for intelligent manufacturing in Longueuil. This Centre of Excellence will feature three new intelligent production lines dedicated to manufacturing highly complex key components for the new-generation family of engines. It is expected to be fully operational in 2015.
“This important announcement is a testament to the Government of Canada’s pledge to support homegrown R&D through effective industry-university collaboration,” said Sheldon Levy, president and vice-chancellor of Ryerson University.
Suzanne Fortier, principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, one of several canadian universities that partner with P&WC on research, say’s the investment signals growth for the aerospace sector
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Pratt & Whitney Canada on a number of projects critical to the growth of Canada’s aerospace sector, including projects in the emerging and innovative field of additive manufacturing,” said Fortier
P&WC is also currently working with approximately 1,300 Canadian suppliers which in turn helps them develop their own cutting-edge skills and expertise and maintain their own competitiveness.
P&WC has a long-established commitment to investing in R&D to spur innovation and power sustainable growth. With an average $450 million in annual R&D investments over the past 10 years, it ranks among the top Canadian R&D investors.
Pratt and Whitney Canada employs about 6,000 people in Canada.
-With files from the Canadian Press
