Lake Mary, Fla.-based Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas Inc. (MPSA) is preparing to break ground on an advanced turbine manufacturing and service center near Savannah, Ga.

Mitsubishi Power Systems to Build Turbine Manufacturing Center in Georgia

The company is building the $325 million facility to manufacture and service gas and steam turbines and related components for power-generation and utility customers throughout North and South America.

Mitsubishi said it chose the 119-acre site in the Chatham County Industrial Site after an extensive search throughout the Southeastern United States that began in late 2007. Major advantages of the site include ready access to the Port of Savannah, a nearby rail spur, extensive modern infrastructure and its status as a “shovel-ready” location, according to the company.

The new facility will create 500 jobs, according to the state.

“This expansion is a vital part of our long-term strategy to further globalize our manufacturing and service capability,” said Dave Walsh, senior vice president of service and manufacturing at MPSA. “This state-of-the-art plant will provide combustor components for both Western Hemisphere customers as well as for global new turbine needs. It will also provide Mitsubishi a service capability for large components supporting Western Hemisphere power providers. Finally it will be the Western Hemisphere assembly site for out latest-technology large-frame gas turbines. This location boasts convenient access by road, rail and sea, an excellent workforce and it has the capacity to support our power generation product growth for decades to come given its size.”

Company Will Begin Making Components as Early as Fall 2010

Construction will begin in 2009 on the first phase of the plant, which will manufacture gas turbine combustor components to support operating units in the Western Hemisphere and new turbines worldwide.

The company will begin hiring in early 2010, and the Quick Start workforce training program will provide training on the assembly and service of the turbines. Aluminum Boxes and enclosures.

The company expects to begin making components as early as the fall of 2010.

In Phase 2, Mitsubishi will build comprehensive service capabilities to support turbine rotor, rotor balancing, valve and other large component repairs and upgrades for gas and steam turbines.

During the third and final phase, the company will manufacture and assemble high-efficiency, low-emission gas turbines.