VA: Rolls-Royce Investing $136M to Expand, Add 140 Jobs at Crosspointe

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, announced that construction will begin on a new advanced manufacturing facility at Rolls-Royce Crosspointe in Prince George County, Virginia. The Group is investing $136 million to develop an Advanced Airfoil Machining Facility (AAMF), which will create 140 new, highly skilled jobs. The new AAMF will be located alongside the company’s Rotatives manufacturing facility on the 1,000-acre Crosspointe campus, located just south of the state capital, Richmond.

“Rolls-Royce is making significant investments in the United States and around the world to ensure we have the capacity to deliver on our promises to customers,” said James M. Guyette, Chairman, President and CEO, Rolls-Royce North America. “With a mixture of manufacturing and research facilities, Crosspointe is a center of excellence for precision engineered, high tech components. The expansion will help attract suppliers to Crosspointe, creating an advanced manufacturing hub in Prince George County and driving job creation.

“The 90,000 square feet AAMF facility will produce turbine blades and nozzle guide vanes for Rolls-Royce engines, including the Trent 900, Trent 1000 and Trent XWB engines. These advanced aero engines are used on some of the most sophisticated aircraft in the world, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A380 and Airbus A350. Construction is expected to be completed on the new AAMF facility by the end of 2013, with the first components produced in late 2014.

“Rolls-Royce’s announcement of the imminent construction and start of its second global manufacturing aerospace facility here in the Commonwealth of Virginia is cause for pride, celebration and great responsibility among all Virginians and our steadfast friends at this world-class technology company.” said Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. “This additional major investment in the Crosspointe campus builds on the momentum of Virginia’s partnership with Rolls-Royce, while also further diversifying and strengthening our state’s strong economy. Rolls-Royce Crosspointe truly has become a beacon for excellence in America-- a strategic intersection for high-skilled job creation, cutting-edge innovation and global competitiveness, achieved as an integrated team sharing a common vision.”

 Rolls-Royce Crosspointe

Rolls-Royce Crosspointe is the Group’s largest and newest advanced manufacturing and research campus in North America. Today, the first line at the Rotatives facility is operational and producing discs for the Group’s advanced civil aerospace engines.

The Crosspointe campus also includes the newly-opened 60,000 square foot facility for the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, a collaboration of government, university and cross-industry business partners focused on breakthrough developments in advanced manufacturing research and technology in America.

Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy.

1. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in more than 80 countries.

2. Annual underlying revenue was $18.1 billion* in 2011, of which more than half came from the sale of aftermarket services. The firm and announced order book stood at $96.2 billion* at June 30, 2012, providing visibility of future growth.

3. Rolls-Royce employs over 40,000 people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.

4. In 2011, Rolls-Royce invested $1.4 billion* in research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.

5. Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centers, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.

6. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.

7. In North America, Rolls-Royce employs more than 9,300 people in 66 locations in 26 states and 7 sites in 6 Canadian provinces. In the United States, Rolls-Royce employs more than 7,700 people in 26 states.

8. In the U.S., Rolls-Royce operates 15 manufacturing, assembly or test facilities in 10 states including California, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

* Assumed exchange rate: £1.00= $1.60