On September 13, AFI KLM E&M opened its new engine shop at its Orly location. The facility is the centrepiece of the “Single Roof” project, the ambition of which is to place AFI KLM E&M at the forefront of industry standards in engine maintenance and to support its positioning on new-generation products such as LEAP (A320neo & 737MAX), Trent XWB (A350) and PW1500G (A220) engines.
The event marks a major step towards the completion of a project launched in 2019, with the first brick laid in 2021. The full project “Single Roof” will be finalised in early 2024, upon completion of the reorganised Building 34 (Henri Farman), which has now been adjoined to the new building.
“Single Roof” is a major project for the future of AFI KLM E&M's engine maintenance and its goals are both industrial and organisational in nature. In conjunction with the construction of the new building – which forms a bridge between the
constellation and Henri Farman workshops, bringing them all under one roof – the project includes a full overhaul of operational processes in order to boost efficiency in engine maintenance turnaround time. Using a co-construction mindset, almost 250 staff were involved in defining new processes and work spaces over the course of the project.
With the creation of this ultra-modern, 4,200 m² building, equipped with cutting-edge industrial resources and the implementation of the new organisational structure, engine processing times will be reduced by 15%.
As well as enabling the maintenance of new-generation engines that contribute to the Air France-KLM Group's decarbonisation trajectory, the design of the building itself will significantly reduce AFI KLM E&M's carbon footprint. This additional investment strengthens AFI KLM E&M's state-of-the-art maintenance infrastructure, combined with the recognised performance of the Amsterdam and CDG engine workshops, including the test stand for very large engines. (£1.00 = US$1.25 at time of publication).
