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• Vice Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak among 400 distinguished guests
 
Munich / Rzeszów, May 20, 2009 – It had been at a record-setting pace that MTU Aero Engines set up its new affiliate in Poland's Rzeszów: the project took a mere nine months from groundbreaking to startup of operations in April this year. Today, MTU Aero Engines Polska was officially inaugurated in a ceremony attended by high-ranking representatives from business, politics and culture. Bishop Kazimierz Górny blessed the new building.

Figuring prominently on the list of about 400 distinguished guests was Polish Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Waldemar Pawlak, who had gladly accepted the invitation. After the blessing ceremony, the guests were given guided tours of the development, production and repair facilities of MTU's Polish affiliate. The guests of honor then joined their hosts for lunch at the Rzeszów City Hall for an exchange of views.

In his speech, MTU CEO Egon Behle pointed out that selecting a new plant location was always a strategic decision and not a choice made based on ups and downs of the economy: "We've looked at a number of candidate locations in several Eastern European countries and ultimately decided in favor of Rzeszów." The chief advantages, he went on to say, were its convenient location in the Polish Aviation Valley with its suitable infrastructure and cost structure, and the availability of skilled labor. Behle stressed: "For an MTU location it's rather unusual to have all three areas of capability in engine construction - development, production, and repair – combined under one roof. That we have this situation here in Rzeszów clearly goes to show what extraordinary significance the Polish shop has for MTU.“ 

MTU Aero Engines Polska has been set up near Rzeszów Airport on a stretch of land seven hectares in size, the buildings occupying an area of more than 18,000 square meters, and the investment costs amounting to over 50 million euros. The complex has two wings: one which houses the development and administration offices, and one accommodating the machine pool for production and repair. The portfolio of the youngest member of MTU's network of companies includes the development and manufacture of stator vanes and rotor blades for low-pressure tur-bines, the assembly of low-pressure turbines, and parts repair. "The people working here use state-of-the-art machinery and apply the globally unique repair procedures that have become MTU's hallmark," explained Richard Maier, who as MTU Project Manager had been responsible for setting up the new plant. The shop went operational in early April with an initial workforce of about 200 people, this number being expected to increase to more than 400 by 2012. At the helm of the company is President and CEO Krzysztof Zuzak.

Late last year, MTU was honored with an important national business award for its activities in Poland: Germany's leading engine manufacturer received the prize in Warsaw for the most significant investment made by a company in the high-tech area in Poland in 2008.

About MTU Aero Engines
With a workforce of 7,500 people, MTU Aero Engines is one of the major players in the engine business worldwide. In fiscal 2008, the company posted more than 2.7 billion euros in consolidated sales. In the commercial area, MTU is the world's largest independent provider of engine maintenance services. In the military arena, it is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines flown by the country's armed forces. Having carved out leading positions in engine technologies, the company excels in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, and manufacturing and repair techniques. This year, Germany's leading engine manufacturer is celebrating its 75th anniversary. MTU's official legal predecessor is BMW Flugmotorenbau GmbH, which was set up in Munich in 1934.