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in Vol. 8 - March Issue - Year 2007
SAESL Celebrates 500th Rolls-Royce Trent Engine

In the Spotlight

Incorporated in 1999, SAESL is jointly owned by SIA Engineering Company (50 per cent), Rolls-Royce (30 per cent) and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (20 per cent). It undertakes the repair and overhaul of Rolls-Royce Trent aero engines around the world and forms an integral part of the Rolls-Royce aftermarket service. Current clients of SAESL include Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, South African Airways, Garuda Indonesia and Air Canada.

Success underlines Singapore’s position as a repair and overhaul hub for the aerospace industry in Asia Pacific

11 January 2007, Singapore – Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL) announced today that it has successfully completed the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its 500th Rolls-Royce Trent engine 18 months ahead of schedule. This milestone also marks the completion of SAESL’s fifth year of operations and the expansion of the business to over 550 employees, 90 per cent of whom are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

SAESL, a S$185 million (US$109 million) joint venture between SIA Engineering Company, Rolls-Royce and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL), began operations in 2001 as a Trent Centre of Excellence, specialising in servicing and overhauling the successful family of Rolls-Royce Trent aero engines, namely the Trent 500, 700 and 800 which power the A340, A330 and Boeing 777 respectively.
The 500th engine successfully overhauled by SAESL is a Trent 800 engine for Singapore Airlines. SAESL is also the first MRO facility worldwide to include the Trent 900 engine as part of its service offering. The engine model will be the latest member of the family to enter service when it powers the new Singapore Airlines Airbus A380.
Strategically located near Singapore Changi Airport, SAESL’s 18,500 sqm purpose-built repair facility has been instrumental in providing support to an international customer base of airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Emirates, Thai Airways, Malaysian Airlines and Garuda.
John Horsburgh, Chief Executive Officer of SAESL said, “Growing from a company with an initial strength of less than 70 in 2001, SAESL has achieved exponential growth over the past five years. We have far exceeded expectations and performance targets, most notably achieving a sales turnover in excess of US$400 million in 2006, a five-fold increase from 2002. This accomplishment was made possible because of the strong support of our clients and the commitment and dedication of the SAESL team. Looking forward, we are expecting to complete another one thousand engines within the next four years, given the popularity of the Rolls-Royce Trent family of engines.”

A Special Performance

To reflect its focus on its people and to mark the special occasion, 550 SAESL employees, led by six SAESL board members and John, performed a unique percussion number – tthe “SAESL Beat 500” – during the celebratory event held today at the facility. The performance opened with five distinct rhythms played by different divisions within the company, gradually synchronising then culminating in a rhythmic unison, symbolising the cohesiveness and team work behind the success of SAESL.

Guest-of-Honour Lim Siong Guan, Chairman of Economic Development Board, distinguished guests Stephen Lee, Chairman of SIA Engineering Company, Simon Robertson, Chairman of Rolls-Royce, key customers and partners participated in the performance.

Congratulating SAESL at the event, Mr Lim said, “We applaud and celebrate an outstanding achievement by SAESL - its 500th overhauled engine more than a year ahead of schedule. This is no mean feat, but not unexpected.  It is a clear testimony to SAESL’s efficiency and productivity, a result of skilled workmanship, dedicated staff and business acumen.”

For Information:
Tel. +65.6325 4606, Fax +65.6325 4616
James Acheson-Gray
E-mail: jag@sg.grayling.com
Soon Lishan Grayling
E-mail: lishan.soon@sg.grayling.com