Pratt & Whitney Unveils Renovated Engine Center

Pratt & Whitney unveiled its renovated engine center and test stand in Middletown Wednesday morning.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy visited the 400 Aircraft Road facilty for a tour. Pratt & Whitney assembles military aircrafts there.

"To see this level of investment here in Connecticut, in your home, in your 90th year is exceptional," Malloy said.

The company also showcased its "new horizontal assembly line to produce PurePower® PW1100G-JM engines for the Airbus A320neo" at the grand opening ceremony, according to the governor's office. The engines will be tested at the Middletown facility, according to Pratt & Whitney. The system can be programmed to run automatically to meet "customer demand" accordingly, the company said.

Pratt & Whitney expects its production to "more than double by 2020," the company said.

"Advanced technological and structural improvements in the test cells will reduce the time it takes to set up and complete testing on an engine, and will enable a safer and more efficient testing process during engine product tests," Pratt & Whitney said in a statement.

The company is also upgrading its "F135 production line" to "streamline the production flow" to assemble more of the engines while maintaining high quality, the company said.

Pratt & Whitney is transforming its global operations,” Joe Sylvestro, Pratt & Whitney vice president of manufacturing operations, said in a statement. “We’re investing more than $1 billion worldwide to prepare for production increase for the F135 engine and PurePower engine family, including significant investments in our East Hartford and Middletown facilities and our new horizontal engine assembly system. Our Connecticut operations continue to be an important part of Pratt & Whitney's bright future. Advanced technology development and production, like the PW1100G-JM, F135 and V2500 lines, build on our legacy of success and position our company as a leader in advanced manufacturing.”

Malloy, Marcus Jadotte, U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for Industry & Analysis, UTC President and CEO Greg Hayes and Pratt & Whitney President Paul Adams spoke at the grand opening ceremony for the engine center.

More information on the upgrades is available on the Pratt & Whitney website.

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