MANKATO, MN—Rolls-Royce has announced a $13.9 million investment in its Power Systems business unit for a multi-phase expansion of its power generation manufacturing facility here. The main portion of the expansion will be the addition of 28,000 square feet to the facility’s existing assembly hall, allowing for additional assembly lines, enhanced product testing capabilities and the creation of 20 new manufacturing positions.
By expanding one of the existing assembly lines to accommodate the production of its high-power MTU gas generator sets, plant capacity is expected to increase by an estimated 25 percent. This will mark the first time these gas generator sets have been produced in the U.S.
"This investment will help us to meet the growing demand for energy in the Americas with locally manufactured products," says Andreas Schell, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. "Mankato will thus become an even more important part of our worldwide production network in the future."
A final benefit of the expansion project is it will allow for improved logistics services and safety enhancements to the site. With the added space, logistics will be separated from assembly operations, and oversized doors will be added to better facilitate lifting and rigging operations.
The first phase of the assembly hall expansion is set to be complete in February 2021, with the final phase targeted for completion in September 2021.
