Trends & challenges

Rolls-Royce investment in products, people and capabilities

Rolls-Royce continues to invest in core technologies, products, people and capabilities with the aim of broadening and strengthening its product and service portfolio, improving efficiency and enhancing the environmental performance of its products.

Rolls-Royce has consistently invested in its German operations since entering the market. Competitive economic and labour conditions, high educational standards and a motivated workforce are just some of the reasons why Rolls-Royce remains so committed to Germany.

Over the years Dahlewitz has established itself as a centre of excellence for two-shaft engines and compressors as well as headquarters of the corporate and regional engine business for Rolls-Royce. The Oberursel site is the centre of competence for blisks (bladed disks), which are a key element of modern engine compressors.

In 2007 the Operations Centre in Dahlewitz was opened as the hub for Rolls-Royce Dahlewitz fleet support. This service centre, which is available 24/7 as the first point of contact for the worldwide customer base, extends the broad range of services being offered by Rolls-Royce in Germany.

In Thuringia Rolls-Royce has teamed with Lufthansa Technik to form the N3 Engine Overhaul Services joint venture in Arnstadt. In this state-of-the-art maintenance centre, Rolls-Royce Trent 500, 700 and 900 engines are serviced and overhauled for leading European, American and African airlines.

At the end of 2008 building work started on the new, innovative Mechanical Test Operations Centre (MTOC) adjacent to the Rolls-Royce facilities in Dahlewitz. With an investment of €65 million the new centre will become the Group’s worldwide centre of excellence for testing the mechanical behaviour of gas turbine components. It will employ 70 highly-skilled engineers on current and future engine programmes, covering the development, production and in-service phases. The 7,000 sq centre will be able to carry out approximately 40 different tests, ranging from centrifugal testing to operational stability tests, vibration and materials testing.