Sundstrand has begun transferring production of APS 2000 auxiliary power units (APU) to its San Diego site in California, following the completion of its purchase of the remaining 50% of Auxiliary Power International (APIC) from Labinal of France.
The company will move all APS 2000 work in-house in the next five months. It is also setting up a second "pilot" production line for the APS 3200 APU, in preparation for its transfer early in 1998.
Production of the APS 2000, which equips the Boeing 737-300/ 400/500 series, is already based in San Diego, with Labinal's Turboméca supplying kits produced in France. "We will see this kitting process move here over the first half of the year," says Sundstrand Power Systems vice-president and general manager, Tim Morris.
Morris expects up to 30 APS 2000s to be made this year, around 50% of which will be for retrofit. Despite the impending phase-out of the current generation 737 models, production of the unit is set to continue as the APS 2100 variant will be used in the McDonnell Douglas MD-95.
The transfer of the French-based APS 3200 production process will be taken "more cautiously", according to Morris, who adds that the original line will be kept running at Turboméca's Bordes factory at least until the early part of 1998.
Part of the caution is because of a planned increase in production. APIC is gearing up to make 115 APS 3200s in 1997, representing the highest volume production year to date. Part of the surge follows the company's latest success in Japan, involving APUs for up to 40 Airbus A320s ordered by All Nippon Airways. This yet-to-be-announced sale was completed against AlliedSignal.
APIC has also begun the search for a European repair centre. "In the next six months we will evaluate all the options and make a decision by the end of the year," says Morris, who adds that Turboméca's Tarnos site in France is one option.
Source: Flight International
