Turbomeca Celebrates Tarnos 50th Anniversary and Launches New Building Project

Turbomeca (Safran) has marked the 50th anniversary of its Tarnos plant with the announcement of “Cap 2020”, a major expansion in its customer support capabilities. The new plant will be fully operational by the end of the decade.

Tarnos is Turbomeca’s second biggest site and is mainly dedicated to support and services. The 50th anniversary was celebrated in presence of Turbomeca CEO Bruno Even and 1500 Tarnos employees with their families.

The Tarnos plant was established in May 1965 to support the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca (RRTM) joint-venture. Its first project was to produce Adour engines for the Anglo-French Jaguar combat aircraft. The first production Adour was produced in 1970, by which time Turbomeca support services had been transferred to the new factory.

Tarnos is now the backbone of the company’s worldwide customer support and service network and the major repair facility for its in-service engines.

CEO Bruno Even said: “Tarnos establishment in 1965 was a major event in Turbomeca’s history. As we celebrate this anniversary, we want to pay tribute to all its employees who, over the years, have supported Turbomeca’s journey to becoming world leader in the helicopter engine market. Their commitment reflects our uncompromised dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction”.

Cap 2020

At the celebrations Alain Peltier, General Manager of Tarnos plant, introduced Cap 2020 to the employees: “Cap 2020 represents a major investment by Turbomeca. Tarnos will be rejuvenated as a state-of-the-art center for our support and services activities and a showcase for our commitment to customer satisfaction. This “factory of the future” will integrate high-performance industrial capabilities and provide our customers with world-class services”.

Tarnos plant currently employs over 1,500 persons and is visited by 10,000 persons each year.

Turbomeca provides its customers with a proximity service through 16 Repair & Overhaul Centers, 39 distributors and certified maintenance centers and 90 Field Representatives and Field Technicians.

A Turbomeca-powered helicopter takes off every nine seconds, somewhere in the world. One out of every three helicopter engines sold in the world is a Turbomeca product.

Turbomeca (Safran) is the leading helicopter engine manufacturer and, since its foundation in 1938, has produced over 72,000 turbines. Turbomeca offers the widest range of helicopter engines in the world and has more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries. Turbomeca has 15 sites and operates on each continent, providing its customers with a proximity service through 39 distributors and certified maintenance centers, 16 Repair & Overhaul Centers, and 90 Field Representatives and Field Technicians. Turbomeca subsidiary Microturbo is the leading European manufacturer of turbojet engines for missiles, drones and auxiliary power units.

For more information: www.turbomeca.com and www.safran-group.com.