Aerospace major Rolls-Royce will hire 500 engineers by 2017 for a new facility at Bengaluru, the company announced on Wednesday.
The work done at the facility will include aerospace engineering for customers in the region as well as support for Rolls-Royce’s regional supplier base. It will also include the development of new tools and technologies that make best use of the capabilities that exist in India, the company said.
“India is a key market for Rolls-Royce and the company has a long track record of investing in developing the country’s aerospace capabilities,” a company statement said, noting that Rolls-Royce has partnered with Indian industry for more than 80 years and already has access to over 1,000 engineers in the country.
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“The expansion of capability in India will allow Rolls-Royce to be closer to its customers and will enable the business to position itself to take advantage of new business opportunities, as well as maintaining its competitiveness in the market.
“It is also part of Rolls-Royce’s strategic aim to continue to establish a cost-competitive presence in key growth markets, ensuring it has the right people, with the right capabilities and skills to deliver to customers,” the statement added.
According to Kishore Jayaraman, Rolls-Royce president for India and South Asia: “Our plans to expand our capabilities here is testament to India’s talented engineering workforce and strongly supports our growth strategy in India. The government here is fully committed to the development of the aerospace industry, by providing the right infrastructure, talent and a conducive business environment for the industry to thrive.”
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This will be the company’s first stand-alone facility in India. It currently operates and manages two engineering service centres in Bengaluru - one with QuEST, launched in 2005 and one with TCS which opened in 2010. Both employ around 500 engineers providing engineering solutions and services across the entire product development lifecycle.
Further supporting Rolls-Royce’s aerospace operations is IAMPL, a 50:50 joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), to manufacture components for the technologically advanced Trent family of civil aero engines in a Bengaluru facility that opened in 2013 and employs more than 100 people.
The new Rolls-Royce facility will have no direct impact on the relationships with existing partners IAMPL, Quest or TCS, the company said.
Rolls-Royce employs over 54,000 people in more than 50 countries. Over 15,500 of these are engineers.