Pratt & Whitney Canada, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, hosted the ceremonial inauguration of the company’s new manufacturing facility – Pratt & Whitney Maroc (PWM) – that will produce detailed static and structural machined parts for the company’s aircraft engines, including the PT6. The event was held in the presence of Mr. Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, Pratt & Whitney Canada’s executives and local business officials.
“Today, we are witnessing the culmination of this great project from Pratt & Whitney with the laying of the first stone. The giant’s decision to invest in Morocco shows once again investors’ confidence in the Moroccan industrial platform and its competitiveness” said Mr. Ryad Mezzour, minister of Industry and Trade of Morocco. “This major project is part of the drive to upgrade the Moroccan aeronautical base by integrating a cutting-edge, innovative and technologically demanding activity”.
“We selected Morocco after a careful global benchmarking effort that pointed to Casablanca’s growing hub of aerospace companies including RTX ’s Collins Aerospace,” said Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Since the announcement of this significant investment less than a year ago, Pratt & Whitney Morocco has made rapid progress in hiring an initial cohort of local employees and working closely with local schools, agencies and the business community to achieve our goal of being fully operational next year.”
As of today, the company has started the hiring of employees with the support of the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (IMA). Additionally, Pratt & Whitney Canada has successfully completed the installation of 80% of major machines in the temporary site in Midparc to support development activities.
“We are delighted to welcome Pratt & Whitney to Midparc, the Casablanca aerospace hub developed by Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion. The presence in Morocco of a major global player in the sector is further recognition that Morocco’s aerospace base is now a must, on Europe’s doorstep, thanks to its competitiveness and quality. It also recognizes the quality of Midparc and the relevance of its business model”, said Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi, President of Midparc.
PWM is being built with lean operating principles to drive efficiency, improve quality and reduce complexity and costs. It will also incorporate advanced environmental practices, a core value for the Company. Once operational, PWM will complement Pratt & Whitney Canada’s current manufacturing sites and supply chain and will help secure parts to meet the strong global customer demand. Detailed machined parts and components will support a variety of the company’s engine families, supplementing existing Pratt & Whitney facilities and suppliers.
