Airbus Helicopters has commenced construction on a cutting-edge 3,100-square-meter facility in Marignane, France, marking a significant step in the company’s ambitious EUR450 million, decade-long redevelopment of its historic site. This new factory will serve as the hub for main gearbox (MGB) and rotor production and assembly, with the goal of enhancing production efficiency and cutting lead times.
Streamlining Operations and Boosting Efficiency
The factory, valued at EUR 230 million, is the largest single project in the redevelopment initiative. Airbus aims to address current inefficiencies and modernize operations. At present, the lead time for an MGB is approximately 13 months. With the new facility, the company aims to reduce this to nearly half.
"This site grew, like a lot of historic sites, in an unorganized way", explained Pascal Kuhn, who is heading the redevelopment project. "In terms of business efficiency, it’s not ideal. Also, we are limited by the airport on one side and the road on the other, and that’s an additional complication."
The redevelopment includes enhancements to workspace design. "In the past, it was very common to have the whole office, 8 square meters or 10 square meters per employee, closed with walls. In the future, we have dynamic working spaces with small bubbles to work when you have to work alone or to make a call. And otherwise, you are in a so-called open space", Kuhn said.
Additionally, the corporate building on-site has been reconfigured to maximize capacity. "The main building, which is just on top of the site that you see from the road, is the corporate building. Before [the] configuration, there was space for 250 employees. [Now it’s been redesigned], that’s 450", Kuhn added.
sbb-itb-5665bbf
Exploring Expansion Opportunities
Despite spatial limitations imposed by the site’s proximity to the airport and nearby infrastructure, Airbus is exploring further ways to expand. Kuhn mentioned the possibility of utilizing brownfield areas on the southern side of the airport, currently home to derelict hangars. While these areas are publicly owned and would need to be rented, they represent a viable option for increasing the company’s footprint.
Looking further ahead, Airbus is considering land on the other side of the D20 motorway as a potential site for supplier facilities and an academy dedicated to training the next generation of engineers and technical workers. The academy is expected to open its doors by the end of 2028.
A Significant Milestone in Airbus’ Future
Airbus’ redevelopment of the Marignane site reflects the company’s commitment to modernizing its operations and preparing for future demands. By investing in advanced facilities and reimagining workspace design, Airbus aims to improve production quality and meet efficiency goals, while also laying the groundwork for future growth opportunities.