Swiss-Based RUAG To Make Malaysia Its Regional MRO Centre

SUBANG (Malaysia), Nov 18 (Bernama) -- RUAG Aviation Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a unit of Swiss-based RUAG, plans to make Malaysia its regional centre of excellence for component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities. RUAG Aviation General Manager David Jones said this strategy would help its ambition to tap into the potential US$160 million (RM696 million) MRO market slated to come from this region. "The Malaysian government has been positive with our establishment here. The centre serves as the company's standing as a component services hub for aviation customers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Asia. "This engagement strongly enhances and strengthens Malaysia's aviation industry with reliable and fast turnaround times with high Swiss quality standards," he said. He told reporters this at the launch of the centre by International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Chua Tee Yong here, Thursday. Jones said this establishment would also reinforce the group's commitment to the Malaysian aerospace industry and to further develop the technical capabilities using local workforce. "Together with our well established Australian facility, this new MRO centre will also strengthen our network in the region to better support customers," he said. Currently, he said Southeast Asia has more than 400 helicopters and some 280 fixed-wing aircraft, a market the company planned to tap into as it has a proven MRO capability for aircraft from the world's leading OEMs. This has established RUAG as a trusted and reliable partner, he added. The company also plans to expand to Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand next year with a focus on the civil aviation market. Meanwhile, Chua said under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the government had identified the aerospace sector as one of the new growth industries for Malaysia. He said the aerospace industry recorded a total trade for aerospace products was US$3.22 billion (RM14.2 billion) in 2015, contributing 1.33 per cent to Malaysia's gross domestic product. (US$1 = RM4.40) "The government views this as a critical sector which offers abundant opportunities for the transfer of advanced technologies in engineering, electronics, composite materials, system integration, MRO and industry-led reseach and technology," he said. "With the opening of RUAG Aviation Malaysia, we are confident that the aerospace industry, particularly the MRO sub-sector, will continue to be a vibrant and thriving industry in the years to come, given that the Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest growth in new aircraft deliveries over the next decade," said Chua. RUAG Aviation provides regional aircraft component services, principally to turboprop and helicopter market. -- BERNAMA