Industria de Turbo Propulsores, S. A. (ITP) has strengthened its tractor side within the aeronautics sector with the incorporation of the Aciturri group as a risk-revenue shared partner (RRSP) in the Trent 1000 programme with a stake amounting to about 1%, and the investment of 10.6 million euros. ITP itself is a risk-revenue shared partner with Rolls-Royce in this engine programme with a 12% stake.

The Trent 1000 engine will be fitted in the latest Boeing aircraft, the Dreamliner B787, the first delivery of which is scheduled for 2008. In fact, in the first delivery of 50 aircraft to All Nippon Airways, the company has chosen the Trent 1000 engine option from the two which are possible for the aircraft.

ITP has a 12% stake in the Trent 1000 engine and is responsible for the design, manufacture and assembly of the complete low-pressure turbine module. The agreement with the Aciturri group represents an important landmark for ITP as a tractor company, with the incorporation of a supplier of high renown within the aeronautics sector as risk-shared partner in this engine programme.

In July of 2005 the signing of this agreement consolidated ITP's position as a key supplier of low pressure turbines for Rolls-Royce engines of more than 35,000lb of thrust. At that time ITP was the sixth stakeholder of the programme joined now by Aciturri. The remaining participating partners in the Trent 1000 are MHI, KHI, Goodrich Control Systems, Hamilton Sunstrand and Carlton Forging which have more than 20% of shares in the programme.

Investment and Turnover

The development of this turbine has meant an investment of more than 150 million euros for ITP, counting both material and non-material outlay which affect the design area as much as they do manufacturing and assembly.

Boeing´s last predictions state that the market for the B787 could be of more than 800 aircraft in the next 20 years. At this moment there are firm orders and commitments for 350 B787. The largest single order is that of All Nippon Airways, with firm orders for 50 units. The engine specification has been decided in more than 300 cases, with 40% definitively for the Trent 1000 engine.

Engine Characteristics

In 2005, ITP completed the design of the LPT in a record time of nine months, spanning from the concept phase to the Critical Design Review. The Trent 1000 is a Rolls-Royce three shaft turbofan capable of generating between 53,200lb and 75,000lb of thrust which is compatible with all the different versions, short and long range, of the 787.

The engine, weighing approximately 5.5 tons, allows the aircraft to take off bearing a maximum weight of 226 tons and reach an altitude of up to 13,000 metres, which is well above the standard, and to attain a cruising speed of Mach 0.85. The 787 can carry between 223 and 296 passengers in its three versions (787-8, 787-9 and 787-3) and has a flight range of between 6,500 and nearly 16,000km.

When it goes into operation, the Trent 1000 will have the benefit of 35 million flying hours of experience provided by its predecessors in the Trent engine series. This will help it to achieve lower consumption and a reduction in emissions.The first tests took place in February of 2006 in Derby (UK), and it will go into service in 2008.