Mitsubishi aircraft-part plan readies for take-off

Japan’s media last week reported that the company’s officials had revealed a plan to build its second factory in Vietnam next summer, which will be situated near the first plant in Thang Long Industrial Park, Hanoi.

VIR failed to contact with MHI Aerospace Vietnam Company, the wholly-owned of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Vietnam and also the investor of the first factory, to find out more about the investment expansion plans.

According to Japanese media, the new factory will produce components for the Boeing 777 jumbo jet that are currently made at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built their first factory in Vietnam in 2007 and started production in 2009. The factory, capitalised at $7 million, produces flaps for the Boeing Next-Generation 737. It remains the only company in Vietnam to manufacture ship aircraft components.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries presently has multiple large-scale projects under way in the aerospace sector, including production of components for Boeing planes and Mitsubishi Regional Jets.

The company’s flap production in Vietnam is part of its initiative to partly shift its metal component assembly work overseas, where abundant human resources are available, and to focus its domestic facilities on high value-added operations.

With the investment expansion of aircraft-part production in Vietnam, the Japanese firm will further strengthen Vietnam’s position on the aerospace supply chain map.

At present, Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd, South Korea’s aeroplane maker, is planning to build a manufacturing facility in Vietnam to manufacture equipment and components for Airbus manufacturers, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.  The facility will be built in Danang’s Hi-Tech Park. According to the park’s management, Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd could obtain their investment certificate for the project next year.