Safran Aircraft Engines has announced a major project to expand its Le Creusot facility in France, which specialises in machining complex rotating parts.
The site currently produces low-pressure turbine disks for CFM International’s LEAP and CFM56 engines, which power Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. Under the new expansion plan, additional production lines will be introduced to manufacture complex rotating parts for the M88 and GE90 engines, which power the Rafale fighter jet and the Boeing 777 wide-body airliner, respectively.
The project represents a €70 million (US$84 million) investment and will increase the workforce at Le Creusot from 200 to 300 employees by 2032. Scheduled to become operational in 2029, the 9,000 m² expansion will bring the site’s total industrial floorspace to 26,000 m².
Once complete, Le Creusot will become the second production source for M88 complex rotating parts, alongside Safran’s Évry-Corbeil facility. This will support business continuity and enable a significant ramp-up in M88 engine deliveries. Machining operations for these parts will begin at the existing Le Creusot facility in 2026 before being transferred to the new expanded area.
Claude Quillien, Vice President of Industrial Operations and Supply Chain at Safran Aircraft Engines, said the expansion reflected the company’s ambition to strengthen its internal supply chain in support of business growth. He added that the project would reinforce industrial and technological sovereignty while meeting the needs of both civil and military customers.
A flagship Safran industrial site, Le Creusot operates to the highest Industry 4.0 standards, with integrated digital processes, connected and automated production management, and specialised expertise in production engineering and quality control. These capabilities deliver strong performance on the LEAP programme, a high degree of machining autonomy, and resilient, flexible production. Many operations are carried out using closed-door machining, where automated machining centres run continuously without human intervention, including overnight.
