Lufthansa Technik Aero Alzey (LTAA), the wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG, has inaugurated a new 1,500 square-metre hangar.

The new building spans three levels and is aimed at enhancing the company’s production capabilities and accommodating the increasing demand for engine overhaul.

Situated within LTAA’s existing premises, the new facility has a photovoltaic system installed across its entire roof area, and will serve as a temporary storage space for engine parts and large tools.

LTAA says that its primary objective is to enable the company to process a greater number of engines simultaneously, aligning with the company’s strategic goals for future growth.

Matthias Gruber, chief executive of LTAA, said: “The addition of this new space marks an important milestone in our path towards future growth.

“Despite the challenges faced over the past three years, including the recent crisis, we have managed to retain a significant portion of our highly skilled workforce.

“We are thus well positioned to serve the high demands of the market and to continue on a course of growth.”

Tobias Baumgart, chief operating officer of LTAA, said: “This expansion creates space and allows us to use the existing production areas even more efficiently.”

LTAA currently employs 600 skilled workers which it says is 100 fewer than before the Covid-19 crisis.

Gruber added: “We are aiming for a gradual return to pre-crisis staffing levels; however, further staff expansion depends on future strategic decisions.”

LTAA is also venturing into advanced technologies by investing in a waterjet system to bring certain outsourced services in-house.

This is said to offer an environmentally friendly method for removing coatings from engine parts on-site, and is more resource-efficient compared to traditional chemical stripping and mechanical methods.

Gruber added: “We maintain close collaborations with industry leaders such as GE and Pratt & Whitney to to be a pioneer in the further development of engine technology.”

LTAA says that its expansion plans extend beyond the new building, with intentions to establish a logistics centre in the new industrial park, and pursue further construction projects in the coming years to create further space for growth and innovation.