Mitsui & Co., parent company of Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Mitsui Seiki USA Inc. is now a key strategic partner in the development of the GE9X aircraft engine for the next generation of wide-body airplanes, the latest in the GE90 engine family manufactured by GE Aviation, Cincinnati, an operating unit of General Electric Co. Mitsui will team up with GE Aviation to support the development of advanced technologies that will provide a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to earlier GE90 engines.
The GE9X engine will feature new cooling technologies, an 11-stage compressor with a pressure ratio of 60:1, a fourth-generation composite fan blade which will reduce the fan blade count to 16 and a high-strength ceramic matrix composite (CMC) in the engine core that will exhibit more thermal capabilities and weighs significantly less than earlier incarnations. These advancements will result in a lighter engine with increased fuel efficiency. -
GE Aviation has thus far received orders for more than 1,500 GE9X engines, which are designed to power the next-generation Boeing 777X wide-body aircraft.
"We are excited to increase our presence in the aerospace business through this strategic partnership with GE Aviation," said Scott Walker, President, Mitsui Seiki, USA "GE Aviation is a well-respected leader in cutting-edge engine development for the aviation industry; they are an ideal partner for our latest venture."
In 2011, Mitsui & Co. entered into a joint venture with Willis Lease Finance Corp. to create Willis Mitsui Engine Support, which acquires and leases GECF34-10E jet engines to the aircraft industry. In addition, Mitsui and GE Aviation are in discussions regarding Mitsui's consultancy services to support GE Aviation's expanding business in Japan.
