Safran continues to expand its international footprint. After the historic presence of several of its brands in Malaysia and Singapore, after the establishment of eighteen sites in Mexico, it is Morocco’s turn to be the object of all the attention of the engine manufacturer. “Morocco is a strategic element for the Safran group”recognized, Wednesday December 6, Olivier Andriès, general director of Safran, during a trip to Casablanca to sign “a framework agreement” development of aeronautical activities with the Cherifian kingdom.
With Airbus, the engine manufacturer gives the there to 142 companies and 20,000 employees located mainly in Casablanca but also in Rabat. On the other side of the Mediterranean, Safran aims to be a locomotive for “develop an SME-SMI ecosystem around it, in Morocco, following the example of Figeac Aero “. In October, the aeronautics equipment manufacturer, based in the Lot, signed a 30 million euro agreement for the supply of metal parts to Safran.
For the boss of the engine manufacturer, Morocco presents the advantage “geographical proximity to France, operational and economic efficiency, and costs are lower” that in France, the average monthly salaries of technicians do not exceed 460 euros. In practice, each of the engine manufacturer’s locations is allocated a geographical area. Malaysia and Singapore supply Asia with parts and engines, Mexico is responsible for America while Morocco has Europe in its sights.
There is no question of “screwdriver factories”. Maria El Filali, general director of the Moroccan aeronautics and space industries group (Gimas), refuses “relocations and wants development”. She recalls that “the Moroccan state has conditioned its aid on the implementation of programs for the future”. His watchword is “integration”, that is to say the creation of elements of an aircraft from A to Z. The establishment of Safran Nacelles, the division which manufactures the engine support and cover assembly, in a factory on the outskirts of Casablanca, meets this demand. But, paradoxically, the production site was born, in 2005, from Airbus’ desire to reinternalize certain activities, including the manufacturing of nacelles. At the time, the aircraft manufacturer found that its suppliers were making too much money to its detriment. Refusing to lose production, turnover but also know-how, Safran offered to manufacture them at a lower cost in Casablanca.
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