TAT Technologies and Engineering Holding join forces for heat exchanger repair facility

Photo by Artyom Karasyov, Sibir Technic

Israeli TAT Technologies has proposed to implement its patented heat exchange system repair technologies in Russia. The company chose Engineering Holding, Russia’s leading MRO provider, as its partner to build a dedicated facility which would cater to Russian airlines’ needs in heat exchange unit repair services.

The new facility will be located at Novosibirsk’s Tolmachevo Airport. TAT Technologies president and CEO, Itsik Maaravi, commented on the firm’s plans to strengthen its positions on the Russian market. “We are proud of our cooperation with the Engineering Holding. The new venture will provide “in-house” services for our clients in the CIS countries, complementing the heat-exchange system repair solutions already offered here. TAT Technologies combines its extensive experience in heat exchange unit maintenance with the capacities and reputation of the Engineering Holding, a guarantee that our clients will receive prompt assistance in time-sensitive situations with no compromise in quality and reliability,” he said.

The project will be managed by a joint venture between the partner companies, branded TAT-Engineering; TAT Technologies will control 51% of the joint venture and the rest will be owned by the Engineering Holding, according to what Engineering’s business development director, Alexander Filippov, told Russian Aviation Insider.

TAT Technologies’ Oklahoma-based subsidiary Limco Airepair, which specializes in heat exchanger maintenance, has agreed to fit out the new facility with the necessary equipment and tools. It will also redirect its Russia- and CIS-based clients to the new venture.

Notably, the Engineering Holding’s Novosibirsk-based subsidiary, Sibir Technics, has been providing repair services for heat exchangers mounted on Airbus A320s in its hangar, located some 50 m from the new facility. “We have been repairing heat exchange units since before this cooperation project with TAT Technologies started. However, the service was basically limited to defect rectification and cleaning,” said Alexander Filippov. “When a more complex repair was required, we had to send the units abroad, since there are no specialized facilities for repairing these units in Russia.”

Engineering Holding’s spokesperson preferred not to reveal the company’s expectations in terms of the number of units the new facility will be able to handle.

“Our main tasks for today are the registration of the legal entity and the launching of operations. There are some renovations that need to be done, and we have to import the equipment, but we are counting on the facility to enter service before the end of the year,” Filippov explained. “It’s quite possible that we will redirect Sibir Technics’ workflow to the new venture, provided there’s stringent quality control.”

According to the top-manager, if this venture with TAT Technologies is successful, the Engineering Holding might extend its partnership with the Israeli firm to other products it offers.