Inauguration of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Advanced Engine Manufacturing Facility
On April 21, 2026, Pratt & Whitney Canada marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its new aircraft engine manufacturing plant located in the Midparc zone of Nouaceur, Casablanca. Spanning an impressive 12,000 square meters and established on a 2.8-hectare site, this state-of-the-art facility represents a substantial investment of $76 million. According to Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi, the president of Midparc, this initiative is the culmination of a decade-long effort, stating, "I received the first teams from Pratt & Whitney ten years ago. Today, we finally step into the 'heart' of aerospace: the engine."
The newly inaugurated plant is equipped with cutting-edge digital systems and advanced machining tools, designed under the principles of lean manufacturing to ensure optimal efficiency. This center of excellence will focus on the production of complex static and structural components that are critical for engine performance. While the PT6 engine remains the flagship product of Pratt & Whitney Canada, the facility will also cater to the PW300 and PW500 engine families. Additionally, Casablanca is set to play a pivotal role in the supply chain for the GTF (Geared Turbofan) engine, renowned as the most innovative engine in the industry for its ability to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Commitment to Human Capital and Operational Excellence
Operational excellence and human capital development are at the forefront of this project. The final construction phase lasted from August 2024 to January 2026, while operational preparations commenced well in advance at a temporary site to ensure immediate service readiness. The result has been a remarkable safety performance, with the project logging over 1.3 million work hours without a single accident, a feat described as a "global benchmark" by management. Maria Della Posta, president of Pratt & Whitney Canada, emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer, noting that experts from Poland and Canada have been instrumental in training local teams.
Currently, the plant employs 77 staff members, with an additional 20 trainees nearing completion of their technical training. Pratt & Whitney Morocco has initiated its third training cohort in collaboration with the Institute of Aeronautical Professions, aiming to quickly double its workforce to 100 highly skilled jobs by the end of 2026 and reach 200 by 2030. This initiative lays the groundwork for a unique engine expertise hub on the continent, transforming young graduates into specialists capable of producing some of the world's most complex engine components. Minister Ryad Mezzour highlighted these "high-quality jobs" as the foundation upon which Morocco aims to build its aerospace industrial sovereignty, aspiring for a workforce that could potentially number in the thousands.
This launch reinforces RTX's (the parent company of Pratt & Whitney) strategic presence in Morocco. Alongside its sister company, Collins Aerospace, which has been operational in Casablanca since 2012, the combined workforce now approaches 250 employees. This positions Morocco as a resilient and highly competitive link in the global supply chain of RTX, whose revenue exceeded $88 billion in 2025. Beyond the industrial scope, this project underscores the strong economic ties between Morocco, Canada, and the United States, with Karim Zidane, the Minister Delegate in Charge of Investment, affirming that the choice of Morocco reflects the confidence of North American major contractors in the Kingdom's stability and long-term vision.
As reported by medias24.com.
