GE Power Systems builds new facility in Budapest

Expanding its presence in Eastern Europe—which more than likely will come on strong in the next few years—GE Power Systems is building a new, 150,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Veresegyhaz, outside Budapest, Hungary.

From the facility, GE Power Systems plans to churn out several of its product lines, including packages for GE's gas turbines up to 50 MW, said Rick Stewart, president of S&S Energy Products, a GE Power Systems business.

"This state-of-the-art facility will primarily serve 50-hertz applications in Europe and throughout the world," Stewart said. "It will use many of the same manufacturing concepts that have proven successful in the United States at the Jacintoport, Texas headquarters of S&S Energy Products."

S&S Energy Products (SSEP) packages GE aeroderivative and industrial gas turbines for a variety of power generation and mechanical drive applications.

According to Stewart, GE Power Systems designed the new Budapest facility to incorporate GE's Six Sigma tools for optimum process flow and efficiency. "We also plan to tap into Hungary's large pool of skilled technical and professional resources, and to recruit as many local personnel as possible," he said. "The necessary training in GE business practices and processes will be provided."

The new facility will package GE's LM aeroderivative gas turbines—LM6000, LM2500+, LM2500, LM2000, LM1600—as well as the GE 5 and the GE 10B-1 turbines. GE also plans to offer complete engineering and project management capabilities from this facility.

Also, the facility plans to offer full-load testing of packages to verify power output and heat rate, ultimate reducing start-up time in the field. Packages for 60-hertz applications will continue to be manufactured out of the SSEP Jacintoport facility.

GE started construction on the new facility in June, with the first unit expect to roll out for delivery in the second quarter of 2001.

Edited by April C. Murelio, Managing Editor, Power Online

Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter.

Click for a free Buyer's Guide listing.