Pratt & Whitney invests $200 million in Columbus, Georgia

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, invested $200 million to expand operations in Columbus, Georgia to support commercial and military engine programs.

The investment followed a $70 million, 81,000-square-foot expansion of GTF MRO capacity at the Columbus Engine Center that added advanced equipment aligned with the companys Industry 4.0 strategy; that earlier work increased annual capacity by more than 25% and added overhaul volume to the GTF MRO network in support of a growing fleet.

The company added a seventh isothermal forging press at Columbus Forge, a capability the organization expected would raise output of rotating compressor and turbine disks by about 30% to support GTF, F135 and other engine programs.

The Columbus site, located about 90 miles south of Atlanta, comprised the Columbus Engine Center and Columbus Forge; the Engine Center maintained GTF engines for the Airbus A320neo family, Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jets E2, and F117 and F100 military engines for the C-17 transport and F-15/F-16 fighters respectively, while the forge produced compressor airfoils and compressor and turbine disks for the GTF and F135 engines.

“Over the past four decades and with the support of the Columbus community, state and Governor, Pratt & Whitney's presence in Georgia has grown from a small manufacturing facility to a state-of-the-art manufacturing and overhaul center, employing over 2,600 dedicated people focused on our mission: to connect and protect our world,” said Pratt & Whitney President Shane Eddy.

“Pratt & Whitney's decision to invest in Georgia immediately after just completing another major expansion is an incredible testament to how companies that operate in our state find reliable, ongoing and long-term success,” said Governor Brian Kemp. The isothermal forging press was expected to become operational in 2028.