The U.S. diversified conglomerate, General Electric (GE, Financial), has touched the skies with its innovative offerings in terms of better engines and is a premiere supplier for several global customers. While competition from Rolls-Royce (RR.L, Financial) and Pratt & Whitney has become intense with the introduction of the concept of fuel-efficient engines, GE has planned to place itself as a market leader in this segment of jet engines and has thus invested millions in the manufacturing of the LEAP engine which is scheduled to be released for commercial production by early next year.
There has been a lot of hustle around 3D printing of parts and GE has been a pioneer in introducing the same concept even in making jet engines, with the LEAP engine’s critical part being manufactured through the newest technology. Let’s dig deeper and find out what the current scenario is with regard to backlog of LEAP engines, and how GE plans to bring a sea-change in the jet engine efficiency with this new jet engine.
A huge investment turning into a success story
GE has already announced several times in the past that its capital investment from 2013 to 2017 would reach a massive figure of $3.5 billion on a global scale, and investing in jet engines is one of its major priorities in hand.
And to revolutionize the concept of jet travel, GE has brought into development jet engines made of ceramic matrix components (CMCs) instead of metal parts in collaboration with France’s Snecma (Safran). In fact, the company’s innovative engineers have successfully tested using ceramics instead of nickel alloys in the jet engine turbine which has led to a transformation in the jet engine designing process. And the best part of using CMCs are its two major attributes which makes it a preferred choice in making jet engines – ceramics are almost one-third the weight of metal and are heat-resistant not requiring air-cooling, thereby making the engine more fuel efficient and also aerodynamically more efficient.
Since the new jet engine named the LEAP uses CMCs in the engine core, with this engine GE expects to take a giant leap in the aviation sector. This is well-apparent from its existing order backlog which also comprises LEAP engine orders that is still under testing phase. Truly, the LEAP engine can work wonders for the jet engine manufacturer in the days ahead.
Order backlog is highly impressive
It is to be noted that the number of engine deliveries to clients has risen from 3,296 engines delivered two year back to around 3,740 by end of 2014 – this indicates that the customer count for GE’s preferred engines is increasing rapidly. Now with the LEAP engine about to enter production after the joint venture with CFM International has borne fruit, this new engine variant could serve in keeping existing customers happy round the clock, besides bagging orders from new customers eager to join the GE aviation club.
According to figures shared by GE’s spokesperson Rick Kennedy, the LEAP engine does seem to be an ace up the sleeve for GE. Presently the order backlog, including orders for existing engines in operation and the LEAP engine which is under development, stands at more than 15,000 orders. This is a huge figure as per the company personnel and surely the LEAP engine is buying exclusive attention from interested customers.
Last word
GE’s all-new commercial jet engine is about to be launched in a year’s time and it has already started to have a ripple effect and GE looks determined to invest in capex, if required, to meet any higher production volumes for the LEAP engine than estimated. With the newest engine GE will create a niche for itself in the aviation industry and its order backlog will possibly swell beyond expectations. So, let’s stay tuned!
