Air Gearbox International opens new 13,500m² Polish facility

Established as a joint company by Rolls-Royce and Safran Transmission Systems in 2015, Air Gearbox International (AGI) is celebrating the opening of a new 13,500m² plant in Ropczyce, south-east Poland. The expanded unit will be responsible for produce accessory drive trains (ADT) for all future Rolls-Royce civil aircraft engines. Currently employing over 50 people, staffing number are expected to increase to 200 direct positions.
Accessory drive trains, also referred to as accessory gearboxes, are a critical component of gas turbine engines, harnessing the engine’s power to drive systems and accessories such as fuel pumps, hydraulic pumps and electrical generators. Already, production of ADTs for the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, which powers the Airbus A350 XWB, is underway, and further projects will include future business jet applications and ADTs for the Trent 7000 engine, which will power Airbus’ A330neo.
In attendance were Mateusz Morawiecki, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Warren East, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce, and Stéphane Abrial, Senior Executive VP International and Public Affairs, Safran.
East said: “I am very pleased to open the new Aero Gearbox International plant in Ropczyce today. I look forward to seeing it become an integral part of our supply chain, delivering high value ADTs and contributing to Rolls-Royce’s growing share of market-leading civil large engines.”
Philippe Petitcolin, Chief Executive Officer, Safran, commented: “Today is a great day for Aero Gearbox International and Safran. We are extremely pleased to be able to enhance our partnership by capitalizing on the world-class accessory drive train systems expertise of Safran Transmission Systems. We wish AGI Poland a smooth operation and much success.”