GE Aviation and U.S. control systems specialist Woodward last month established a new joint venture for fuel systems for GE’s large commercial aircraft engine lines. The contract calls for the partnership to design, develop, source, supply and service the fuel system, including components from the fuel inlet up to the fuel nozzle, for the GE90, GEnx, GE9X and all future large commercial engines developed by GE. Woodward will serve as the preferred supplier for the joint venture.
Under the terms of the deal, Woodward will receive $250 million in cash and the partners will participate jointly in the operating results of the respective programs. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, and the partners expect it to close near the end of this year.
According to Woodward chairman and CEO Tom Gendron, much of the focus of the U.S. company’s research and development efforts is now on developing controls to align with the changing architecture of engine combustors. “It’s about helping them [engine manufacturers] to deliver the architecture they want and to work closely with them on their goals,” he told AIN.
For the GE9X, the fuel system being developed by Woodward will consist of between 15 and 17 LRUs. By comparison, the unit it made for the GE90 had just one LRU. “We’re working hand-in-hand with GE to share more intellectual property across the whole fuel system,” said Gendron.
Woodward has innovated to make fuel systems more accurate and precise and so better support the new combustors. “This involves sensing, metering, accuracy, handle temperatures and pressures; it’s a combination of a lot of activities,” explained Gendron.
The company has invested around $500 million to develop two new production facilities in Illinois. These are now ready to make fuel systems at high rates of production.