SAESL breaks ground for its new facility

• S$242 million (US$180 million) investment to increase SAESL’s aeroengine MRO capacity by 40% to over 400 engines by 2028
• Expansion into the 26,000 sqm purpose-built new facility and the 25,000 sqm Seletar facilities to boost engine, module and component repair capacity
• Developing new aeroengine MRO repair capabilities and enhancing productivity through new technologies
• 500 high-skilled professional positions to be filled by 2028

Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL), a leader in Rolls-Royce Trent engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, proudly announces the groundbreaking of its new facility in Loyang and the expansion into Seletar Aerospace Park. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong graced this event as the Guest-of-Honour.

This latest investment reinforces SAESL's commitment to strengthening Singapore's position as a global aerospace hub. A joint venture between Rolls-Royce and SIA Engineering Company Limited, SAESL has experienced significant growth over the past 20 years—from a 200-employee operation in a single building to a 2,000-strong workforce operating across five facilities in Calshot and Loyang.

At the Singapore Air Show in February 2024, SAESL had announced this bold S$242 million expansion strategy to meet the growing demand for next-generation Rolls-Royce aeroengine services. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board and funded through internal resources and external borrowings over the next four years, this investment will boost SAESL’s MRO capacity by 40%, enabling it to service over 400 engines annually by 2028, making us the world's largest MRO facility for Rolls-Royce’s latest-generation engines.

The groundbreaking of the 26,000-square-meter facility in Loyang signals a milestone in strategic expansion and a new era for SAESL. Designed to seamlessly integrate with its existing infrastructure, the facility incorporates advanced supply chain solutions and adheres to Industry 4.0 standards, ensuring heightened efficiency, automation, and connectivity. This state-of-the-art facility underscores SAESL's commitment to setting new benchmarks in the aerospace MRO industry.

In tandem with the Loyang development, SAESL’s 25,000 sqm expansion at Seletar Aerospace Park further elevates its capabilities. The facility will house Engine Disassembly, Assembly, and Testing (DAT), along with component repair and the Advanced Repair Cell. Notably, SAESL is the first in Rolls-Royce’s global network to industrialise advanced adaptive repair technology, harnessing digital manufacturing to integrate laser additive deposition, adaptive machining, and non-contact measurement technologies, providing repair technology resilient to the challenges of modern jet engines.

SAESL builds on the success of the S$68 million partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Rolls-Royce for the Smart Manufacturing Joint Lab, continuing to drive innovation.

To complement its technological advancements, SAESL is embracing a digital transformation through the deployment of new enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution systems (MES). By integrating artificial intelligence (AI), SAESL aims to drive actionable insights and analytics, shifting from manual processes to high-value-added operations. SAESL's partnership with A*STAR and the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the Sectoral AI Centre of Excellence for Manufacturing (AIMfg) further amplifies its innovation roadmap.

SAESL is committed to empowering the workforce of tomorrow and its transformation is underpinned by a workforce development initiative, which will create 500 high-skilled professional roles by 2028. Concurrently, SAESL is investing in upskilling its existing employees, supported by strong partnerships with government agencies and educational institutions to nurture talent and foster innovation within Singapore’s aerospace ecosystem.