SAFRAN DELIVERS THE FIRST LEAP-1A PROPULSION SYSTEMS TO AIRBUS FROM ITS NEW TIANJIN SITE

Tianjin is Safran’s fourth nacelle integration site, after Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Mobile (Alabama, USA). Located in the Tianjin Free Zone near Airbus' A320neo Final Assembly Line (FAL), it embodies Safran’s desire to be as close as possible to its aircraft manufacturer customers, to support the growth of the Chinese market.

With a total surface area of 5,000m2 (53,820ft2), the new Tianjin site is intended to consolidate all nacelle integration operations on Airbus A320neo's CFM International LEAP-1A engines: assembly of engine equipment (Engine Build Up – EBU) and nacelle components (air inlet, engine cowl, thrust reverser and exhaust nozzle), painting, buy off by Airbus and the airlines, then delivery to Airbus' FAL and support for on wing integration. The site will employ between 15 and 20 qualified employees and will deliver 90 propulsion system units per year from 2024.

Capitalising on Safran Nacelles’ other integration sites' experience, the Tianjin plant is equipped with a “Flex Line” workshop, enabling operations to be carried out either in a “Pulse Line” mode, or as a fixed station according to Airbus’ needs. It is, therefore, possible to direct some engines towards a secondary flow zone dedicated to FAL support operations, without impacting the production rate of other propulsion systems.