Rolls-Royce seeks Korean partners to expand engine business here

U.K.-based Rolls-Royce International Ltd. plans to expand joint production of airplane and marine engines with Korean companies, Alan Plumb, the regional director of the company, said at a press conference yesterday. Mr. Plumb said Rolls-Royce is satisfied with the quality and the on-time delivery of Samsung Techwin, and is looking for additional Korean partners. Samsung Techwin signed a 10-year contract in 2001 to be an exclusive worldwide supplier to Rolls-Royce of combustor modules for the Trent 900 engine for the Airbus A380. He said the company is considering developing a joint venture with a Korean firm, not just being supplied with components. The future of the aerospace industry here is bright, Mr. Plumb said, because the Korean government plans to grow the industry as one of the sectors driving the economy. He said that Rolls-Royce could transfer its own technology to Korea in the industry. Rolls-Royce is the world’s second largest defense aerospace and civil aerospace engine company. Mr. Plumb said that Rolls-Royce is also looking for a Korean partner to join the Korea Multirole Helicopter project, and if it participates in the project, it would produce the helicopters at the facilities of its Korean partner. If the business grows, it may create a joint venture, but it does not plan to build a factory wholly owned by Rolls-Royce, he added. Rolls-Royce is known as a luxury passenger car maker in Korea, but the company left the automobile sector in 1998 and no longer produces the vehicles. It is an aerospace, defense, marine and energy equipment manufacturer. It entered Korea in 1963 when Korean Air purchased its airplane engine. by Choi Ji-young