Pratt & Whitney Canada has opened a new factory in Morocco as the country moves further into high-value aerospace manufacturing.
The 12,000 square metre site in the Midparc zone of Nouaceur opened on Tuesday 21 April. The project cost $76m and will make aircraft engine parts.
Midparc president Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi said the launch comes after ten years of work and puts Morocco at the centre of engine manufacturing. The factory uses digital systems and high-precision machines based on lean production methods.
The plant will make complex structural parts mainly for the PT6 engine and will also support the PW300 and PW500 engine families. Casablanca will now join the supply chain for the Geared Turbofan engine, known for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
The project recorded 1.3 million work hours without an accident. The factory currently employs 77 people, with 20 more in training. The aim is to reach 100 skilled jobs by the end of 2026 and 200 by 2030. Industry minister Ryad Mezzour said these jobs are important for Morocco’s ambition to build a strong aerospace industry.
Morocco’s growing aerospace industry
The new factory is part of a wider strategy that has turned Morocco into an aerospace hub over the past 20 years. The country now hosts more than 140 companies in the sector, including Boeing and Airbus.
Midparc, located near Casablanca’s international airport, offers tax incentives and a ready supply chain. Pratt & Whitney began training staff and early operations at a temporary site before the main factory was finished.
Moving into engine parts is a major step for Morocco, which has mostly focused on wiring and assembly until now. Producing parts for the Geared Turbofan engine is especially important because it powers newer fuel-efficient planes such as the Airbus A320neo.
Morocco has also invested in training. The Institute for Aeronautical Professions works with companies to design courses that match industry needs, helping workers learn digital machining and lean production.
More global investment
Pratt & Whitney is part of RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies. The expansion strengthens RTX’s presence in Morocco alongside Collins Aerospace, which has operated in Casablanca since 2012 making cockpit systems and flight controls. Together they employ nearly 250 people in the country.
Earlier this year the French group Safran opened a new landing systems factory in Nouaceur, worth nearly $300m and expected to become its biggest global landing-gear production site.
