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K. Giriprakash

Mr Tim Jones

BANGALORE, Feb. 6

ROLLS-Royce expects to make more investments in manufacturing, design and software development related to aero engines in India. It has ruled out any plans to set up its own facility in the country.

Rolls-Royce India Managing Director, Mr Tim Jones, said the company was working with Indian firms to identify areas of collaboration involving software for several applications. "This is obviously an area where India has proven strengths and we will be able to announce something in this area shortly," he said. He, however, did not give details of the size of the investments .

Mr Jones said further collaborations would depend on the flow of business between Rolls-Royce and Indian companies. "These days it makes no sense to set up a facility, whether for manufacture or repair, and then look for business. The two go together which is why we joined with HAL many years ago in a licence agreement under which HAL manufactures some of our engines and repair others," Mr Jones said.

He added that there are opportunities for further co-operation into the marine and industrial sectors as well. "Our recent order for a shiplift at the new Naval base at Karwar could be an excellent model for commercial shipyards," Mr Jones said. Rolls-Royce business Syncrolift Inc recently won a $32-million order to provide a shiplifting system at a new Indian Naval base, Sea Bird near Karwar. In India, Rolls-Royce has offices in seven locations, over 1,000 aero engines in service and over 150 engines pumping oil and gas.

Mr Jones said Rolls-Royce sees India as an important strategic partner as well as a market. "We certainly see India continuing to produce world class, top quality, well engineered products at highly competitive prices," he said. He added that 60 per cent by value of their latest shiplift contract at Karwar will be spent locally on components supplied by Indian companies.

The lift, with a capacity of almost 10,000 tonnes, is capable of handling Indian Navy vessels, including the Delhi destroyer class. The hoists, platform and associated ship transfer system will be made in India.

Rolls-Royce engines power commercial aircraft in every segment of the market. It has customers using both fixed and rotary wing aircraft in over 150 countries, including more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility operators and 160 armed forces. Rolls-Royce is also a global leader in marine propulsion, engineering and hydrodynamic expertise, with a broad product range and full systems integration capability. More than 2,000 commercial marine customers and over 50 Navies use Rolls-Royce propulsion systems and products in 20,000 ships. Navies alone operate 1,000 gas turbines.

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