MTU at the 2013 Paris Air Show: Lower fuel burn, lower noise, and lower emissions

May 28, 2013
High-speed low-pressure turbine for the GTF receives innovation awards - Complete engines and various modules on display

Munich, May 27, 2013 – At its 280-square-meter booth No. 254 in Hall 2A, Germany’s leading engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines will showcase a line-up of commercial and military products and services from its portfolio. The highlight of its exhibition is the full-scale mock-up of a geared turbofanTM (GTF) engine built by Pratt & Whitney and MTU. “In no other program before have we seen such a large quantity of orders coming in so quickly,” says MTU CEO Egon Behle. Around 3,500 firm orders and options have been received to date.

At this year’s Paris Air Show, the German engine manufacturer will also exhibit its high-speed low-pressure turbine - for the very first time. MTU is the only manufacturer in the world capable of offering the technology in­cor­porated in this key GTF component. Apart from being designed for high speed, this GTF module boasts high structural strength to withstand high mechanical loads and a low weight, which boosts efficiency, reduces fuel consumption, and, last but not least, saves on maintenance costs. In March and April, the Munich-based company was honored with two German innovation awards for this outstanding technological achievement.

Other commercial engine products on display will include the turbine center frame (TCF) for the GEnx, which powers the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the new Boeing 747-8 (compared with its predecessor, the GEnx, too, burns 15 percent less fuel, and hence also cuts  CO2 emissions by 15 percent; incidentally, MTU delivered the 200th TCF just a few weeks ago), plus a low-pressure turbine disk for the GP7000 powering the A380 and a compressor with active control systems. The GP7000 sets new standards in terms of reliability, fuel consumption and noise emissions in the wide-body aircraft sector.

Representing MTU’s military product line, another two complete engines are on display: the EJ200 powering the Eurofighter Typhoon and the GE38 powering the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Visitors interested in learning more about the Western world’s most powerful turboprop will be able to take a closer look at the intermediate-pressure compressor of the TP400-D6 engine, the propulsion system of the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft.   

The German engine specialist will also showcase its world-class capabilities in the fields of manufacturing and repair procedures, presenting, for example, additive manufacturing processes and commercial and military repairs, including an EJ200 compressor blisk repair technique.

MTU will also be exhibiting at the booth of Clean Sky in Hall 2B, No. 106. As part of this, the largest aeronautical research program ever launched in Europe, MTU explores new technologies for high-pressure compressors and low-pressure turbines for the second generation of geared turbofans and, moreover, is responsible for one of five engine demonstrators being built. Among the innovations that will be showcased are components made from new materials or produced using additive manufacturing techniques.

About MTU Aero Engines

MTU Aero Engines, Germany's leading and the country's only independent engine manufacturer, is an established glo­bal player in the industry. It engages in the development, manufacture, marketing and support of commercial and mili­tary aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The compa­ny is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, manufacturing processes, and repair techniques. In the commercial maintenance area, MTU Main­te­nance is the world's largest independent provider of engine maintenance services. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines flown by the country's military. MTU operates affiliates around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2012, the company had a workforce of some 8,500 employees and posted consoli­dated sales of some 3.4 billion euros. In early March this year, the company won the German Industry’s 32nd Innova­tion Award, and in April, it was honored with the German Innovation Award. In both instances, MTU received the reco­gnition for the geared turbofan™ engine’s high-speed low-pressure turbine.