AMSTERDAM—Hungarian maintenance provider Aeroplex has unveiled plans to construct a new component repair facility close to Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Maglod.
With a volume of 75,300 ft.2 and located around eight miles east of Budapest, the component center will focus on maintenance for wheels and brakes, engine parts and composite structure repairs.
In addition to maintenance services, the facility will house other functions including painting, shot blasting, non-destructive testing and logistics services.
Aeroplex tells Aviation Week its investment in the facility will stand at €5 million ($5.3 million) and include the construction of the hangar along with investment in machinery.
Arpad Demeny, CEO of Aeroplex, says the facility will predominantly target existing customers in Europe but it is also targeting new customers from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa with the main aim of establishing itself as a multi-capability component center in Central Europe. “It’s not a new segment for us but it’ll represent a huge growth—with the component business we’d like to extend in the areas of wheels and brakes, engine parts and composite structures,” he says.
Long-term, Demeny foresees more component items being added to its repair capabilities. “Everything that could be removed from an aircraft we’d like to eventually repair,” he says.
Demeny says the facility is a response to what it perceives as a shortage of component repair support in Central Europe along with growing market demand for services. Aeroplex says this has come from several market segments which, combined, have contributed to company revenues growing four times higher than almost four years ago.
Aeroplex currently employs more than 700 people but Demeny says it will look to add more staff soon to ramp up its workforce for the component center. To do this, it plans to leverage existing partnerships with several local high schools and Budapest University's engineering school.
In addition, this year Aeroplex signed a partnership with the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry focused on adult training.
