Phase one of Mitsubishi Savannah facility inaugurated
Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas (MPSA) unveiled on May 11th its $325 million Savannah, GA Machinery Works that will manufacture and service large gas and steam turbines. The construction of the plant marks the first time that Mitsubishi has built a complete turbine manufacturing facility outside of Japan.
Koji Hasegawa, president of MPSA, said this plant shows that Mitsubishi recognizes the excellence in manufacturing found within the U.S. and allows the company to be closer to its North American customers. At full operation, the plant is expected to provide in excess of 500 jobs, with an average annual salary of $58,000. Said Hasegawa: “Over the past decade MPSA has provided the U.S. and Canada over 17,000 MW of new generation, including combined cycle, wind and conventional power.”
The plant will be completed in three phases: Phase one – the gas turbine combustor manufacturing facility - is already completed. Phase two, which will include service for turbine rotors, valves and generators, should be finished by year-end. Phase three, which will support the manufacture and assembly of the next generation of gas turbines, should be completed next year.
The plant features state-of-the-art tooling, including computer numerical control (CNC) and robotic machine platforms and is certified to ISO 9001:2000. Gas turbine components to be manufactured include: baskets, transitions, blades, vanes and ring segments for the M501/M701 F and G series. Installed machine capabilities include: 5-axis CNC horizontal boring mill; CNC horizontal and vertical turning lathes, electrical discharge machining and continuous dress creep feed grinding.
Repair services will encompass penetrant, eddy current and ultrasonic inspection, as well as radiographic, thermographic and flow check inspection. Blade, vane and ring segment repair will include a chemical cleaning line, ultrasonic cleaning, vacuum brazing, solution and aging, and automated thermal spray and high-velocity oxygen fuel coating.
