Safran Forging Press Expansion Strengthens France’s Jet Engine Supply Chain

Safran, Forging

Safran forging press investment in Gennevilliers will expand the French engine manufacturer’s capacity to produce large, high-performance aerospace components. The company plans to install a 30,000t hydraulic press that is expected to become operational in 2029.

The €150mn press will be able to produce 14,000 parts a year at full capacity. It will support higher output of the CFM International LEAP engine, which Safran jointly manufactures with GE Aerospace.

Safran forging press expansion also supports military engine supply chains. The new equipment will help produce parts for engines used in the Rafale, Mirage and A400M aircraft, as well as high-thrust GE engines where Safran supplies high-pressure and low-pressure compressors.

The investment shows how aerospace manufacturers are preparing for sustained engine demand. Airbus and Boeing are both trying to raise production rates for the A320neo Family and 737 MAX, increasing pressure on qualified forging, casting, machining and superalloy supply chains.

High-Tonnage Forging Capacity Targets Future Engine Programmes

The new Safran forging press will give the company more capability to manufacture large engine parts. This is important because next-generation civil aircraft engines are expected to require larger, more complex and more demanding forged components.

Large hydraulic presses are strategic assets in aerospace manufacturing. They allow producers to shape high-strength alloys under controlled conditions, improving structural integrity, fatigue performance and reliability in critical rotating and static engine parts.

The press will also reduce dependence on constrained external forging capacity. Aerospace supply chains have faced recurring bottlenecks in qualified forgings, castings, titanium products, nickel alloy parts and precision-machined components.

For Safran, adding high-tonnage forging capacity supports both current programmes and future engine platforms. The investment strengthens control over key manufacturing steps at a time when engine makers are trying to improve delivery reliability.

Nickel Superalloys and Titanium Remain Critical Engine Materials

Safran’s investment has direct implications for high-performance metals. Nickel-based superalloys are essential for turbine forgings because they retain strength, creep resistance and oxidation resistance at extreme temperatures.

These materials are used in the hottest sections of jet engines, where ordinary alloys cannot survive. As engine efficiency targets rise, demand for advanced nickel superalloy processing remains strategically important.

Titanium is also critical in lower-temperature engine sections, including low-pressure compressors. Its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance make it essential for aerospace systems where weight reduction and mechanical performance matter together.

The Gennevilliers project follows Safran’s broader capacity buildout. The company is investing in a new turbine casting facility in La Janais, Rennes, scheduled for commissioning in 2027, and has committed €70mn to expand complex rotating part capacity at Le Creusot by 2029.

Together, these investments point to a coordinated engine materials strategy. Safran is strengthening forging, casting and rotating component capacity to support civil and military aerospace demand through the next production cycle.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Safran’s 30,000t press shows that aerospace competitiveness increasingly depends on control of qualified materials processing capacity. Nickel superalloy and titanium supply will remain critical as engine makers race to meet higher build rates without sacrificing reliability.