Turbomeca Africa Has Grown Bigger in 10 Years

As Turbomeca Africa clocks ten; the company has reported a consistent move from making loss to a healthy profit.

Located at the Bonaero Park, near the O R Tambo International Airport, South Africa, the company is 51% owned by the Turbomeca group (part of Safran) and 49% owned by Denel. It is a global leader in design, manufacturing and sale of gas turbines for small and medium power for helicopters.

Speaking at the company’s 10^th anniversary celebration, the company chairman and CEO, Olivier Andries, said, “In ten years, Turbomeca Africa has grown to be a force to reckon with regarding MRO and component manufacture.

Andries stated that so far, Turbomeca has claimed 75% of the military turbine market in southern Africa and 35% of the civilian market with 700 flying engines in service in the region.

He admitted that although there had been good times and bad times; the company still has to work hard in ensuring on-time delivery.

Deon Craffert, Sales Manager at Turbomeca Africa, also affirmed that despite the fact that the company started with real challenges and expenses, the company’s income have taken a turn over from what it was in the past.

Established in 2002 after the September 1999 order for 30 AgustaWestland A109 Light Utility Helicopters for the South African Air Force (SAAF), Turbomeca manufactures A109 components for the overseas market.

While the Chairman of the Denel Board, Zoli Kunene, expressed delight in the relationship forged with Turbomeca Africa over the years; South Africa’s Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, said “We are grateful for the investment Turbomeca has made in our country as South Africa needs lots of foreign direct investments to create skilled jobs and address poverty, unemployment and inequality.”