Pratt & Whitney Canada will invest more $870 million (C$1 billion) over 4.5 years for R&D programs at its operations in Longueuil, Quebec, and Mississauga, Ontario, to develop new high-performance aircraft engine technologies. The research will be focused on new propulsion technologies to improve environmental performance, including reduced fuel consumption and weight, lower emissions and less noise. These technologies would be applied to the group’s current and emerging turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft engines for business, regional, and general aviation and helicopter applications.
"Pratt & Whitney Canada leads the industry in developing the next generation of high-performance and sustainable technologies," according to John Saabas, president of the United Technologies Corp. subsidiary.
"Our latest R&D programs include cutting-edge materials, such as composites and advanced alloys, to improve engine weight, a high-efficiency compressor technology to enhance engine performance and reduce fuel consumption, and further improvements to our combustion systems to reduce engine emissions,” Saabas said. “We are also implementing advanced technologies and intelligent cell concepts to bolster our manufacturing capabilities in Canada. This investment will ensure that we remain technology-ready to support our customers in the years ahead."
The new investments will be supported by a C$300-million “repayable contribution” from Canada through its Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) program.
Saabas said Canada’s contribution would help P&WC to invest more than C$1 billion in its research efforts.
Currently, P&WC is nearing completion of a five-year, $275-million investment in new technologies and upgrades for its operations, including a new center for intelligent manufacturing, at Longueuil, to be completed next year. This Center of Excellence will include three "intelligent production" lines for manufacturing complex components for a new generation of PurePower engines.
