Aviation: Safran and Air France build new plant near Valenciennes
30 Jun 2016 | Front page, Investment
In the past, Safran and Air France-KLM have outsourced aircraft engine repairs to foreign suppliers. But now this component of the aviation industry is relocating to Northern France.

€20 investment, 250 jobs
Safran and Air-France KLM have joined forces to build an aircraft engine maintenance plant in Rosult, near Valenciennes. This €20 million investment in the region’s aviation sector is expected to create 200-250 jobs by 2020, with operations slated to start up in late 2017. The 5,000-sq m building will be sited on a parcel of land five times its size, leaving the door open for future expansion.
The advantages of Northern France
Safran and Air France-KLM had narrowed the choice of location to Northern France and Vendée, on the west coast of France, but the strengths of the Valenciennes site were compelling:
- strategic location
- efficient road infrastructure
- large labor pool
- qualified workers
- strong manufacturing culture
- available land
Source: La Voix du Nord
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