Massive Rolls-Royce Project Progressing

(Rendering provided by Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis.)

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Rolls-Royce says much of the $600 million expansion at its Indianapolis manufacturing campus is ahead of schedule. The work, which is one year into a five-year timetable, involves multiple new facilities and modernization of hundreds of thousands of square-feet of existing space. The manufacturer says more than $122 million has already been invested and $117 million in additional work could come by year’s end at the new Indianapolis Operations Center.

Rolls-Royce’s project is tied with Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana Inc. in Princeton, which announced expansion plans Tuesday, as the second-largest capital commitment by a company working with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. since the organization was launched in 2005.

Project Director for the Revitalization of Indianapolis Operations David Mair says "we are very pleased with our progress. We could not have achieved or exceeded these aggressive milestones without some of the best project management, engineering and UAW employees in the world. In addition, we have a network of highly skilled and engaged contractors from around the region who are helping us meet our milestones. We’ve also had a tremendous outpouring of support from the community and our government leaders who are keen to hear how we are progressing."

Officials say construction crews totaling some 1,500 workers have already completed several facets of the project including:

• The Rolls-Royce Development Center, which will test and prove manufacturing methods.
• A Materials Research Laboratory focusing on advanced material development
• One of two new helicopter engine test cells

Rolls-Royce says the project involves close to 600,000 square-feet, which includes three independent manufacturing centers: a Rotatives factory, Turbines factory and Assembly and Test factory, which are all expected to be complete some time this year.

The investment is considered Rolls-Royce’s largest in the country since it acquired the former Allison Engine Co. in the mid-1990s.