Pratt &Whitney has made a further move to build up its engine-maintenance business by agreeing to buy Howmet's aerofoil-refurbishment plants.
The deal is expected to be complete within two months, and the Howmet plants will be integrated into P&W's Eagle Services unit. P&W aims to grow its repair business to make up 30%of sales within five years, a target already beaten by rival General Electric through a spate of recent acquisitions.
Howmet, the largest US manufacturer of investment castings for gas-turbine engines, was acquired in December 1995 by a joint venture between the Carlyle Group and Thiokol.
Source: Flight International
