The giant Safran, specializing in aeronautics, will set up an industrial site near Rennes dedicated to the manufacture of aircraft engine parts. The site in question is that of Janais, in Chartres-de-Bretagne. For the city of Rennes, as for the Brittany region, this is a “nice catch”.
“This is excellent news for the region.” Nathalie Appéré, the mayor of Rennes and president of Rennes Métropole, did not shy away from her pleasure this Tuesday, February 27.
Safran, aeronautical equipment and engine manufacturer, will set up a new factory in Chartes-de-Bretagne, on the Janais site, Rennes Safran Turbines Airfoils, for the production of military engines for aircraft.
Nathalie Appéré sees this as the realization of work undertaken by the metropolis to develop the industrial vocation of this historic site in Janais.
Safran will come there to produce turbine blades for civil and military aircraft, that is to say parts for the Leap engines which equip aircraft such as the A320neo or the Boeing 357Max, or even the M-88 engines of the Rafale fighter plane.
This precision foundry will be established on 6 hectares of land that Rennes Métropole had purchased from the automobile manufacturer Stellantis.
Safran will invest 80 million euros for this foundry. The start of construction is planned for the end of 2024-beginning of 2025. Production should start in 2027.
For Rennes, it’s a great operation. “A success made possible by the existence of a pole of industrial excellence in Janais”, according to Safran’s communications department.
Historic PSA site, La Janais, to the south of the city, very close to the airport, today brings together some 2,000 employees on 45 hectares. It notably houses the factoryStellantis which produces the Peugeot 5008 and the Citroën C5 Aircross
The establishment of Safran Turbine Airfoils in Brittany is a strategic decision which demonstrates our support for national sovereignty and the industrial renaissance of France.
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran
In a press release, Jean-Paul Alary, president of Safran Aircraft Engines, specifies that “Safran Turbine Airfoils will enable us to meet our challenges of increasing production rates on the M88 military engine”, which equips the Rafale, a French combat aircraft.
Moreover, as a result, some 200 jobs will be created. The group says it essentially wants to hire for this new factory which “must be a technological showcase of innovation and low-carbon”.
Just like the metropolis of Rennes, the Brittany region welcomed this establishment of Safran in the Breton capital.
Brittany is an industrial land. It is important for our sovereignty, our economic performance but also for the men and women who work in these professions.
Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany Region
The Brittany region must support Safran with a training plan according to the group’s needs.