PRIDCO and Honeywell break ground for a high-tech laboratory

Moca, Puerto Rico – Honeywell Aerospace executives joined members of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to break ground on the construction of a new research and development laboratory that the company will operate in the northern municipality of Moca. During the last months, Honeywell Aerospace has been working closely with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) to design and develop an electromagnetic interference (EMI) laboratory that will allow Honeywell Aerospace to test the electromagnetic compatibility in Honeywell Aerospace products.

 

“The project that we build today and that should be completed by October 2015, will give Puerto Rico its first laboratory of aerospace technology. Honeywell Aerospace will use this center for research and development to test the effects of electromagnetic interference on its products. In other words, this is a key project that advances the position of Puerto Rico within the aerospace industry”, said the governor Alejandro García Padilla during the groundbreaking event.

 

Puerto Rico has been chosen for this project given its competitive workforce, its compliance with all federal regulations related to defense activities and the economic incentives provided for manufacturing and export services activities, including those related to research and development. The project represents an important milestone for the growing Puerto Rico aerospace industry and the local economy overall, creating job opportunities for dozens of people and stimulating economic activity for several local contractors and suppliers.

 

“This new state-of-the-art facility in Puerto Rico will enable Honeywell to expand our core competency in designing, developing and testing a wide range of advanced aerospace avionics and electric power technologies,” said Bob Smith, vice president of engineering and chief technology officer at Honeywell Aerospace. “This move is a clear demonstration of Honeywell’s valued partnership with PRIDCO and the broader Puerto Rican community, and underscores our commitment to providing our customers with industry-leading aerospace solutions.”

 

The construction timeline and related permits process of the 73,000ft² facility has already been completed and construction is expected to be done by October 2015. Honeywell Aerospace has also been successful in finding the right talent for these operations and continues to collaborate with local universities in the efforts to develop new talent.

 

“At PRIDCO we are proud and excited to see how important projects, that were once conceived as major economic drivers in our industrial development roadmap, begin to bear fruit. Honeywell has been one of our key partners in the efforts of growing the aerospace segment in Puerto Rico and this groundbreaking marks an important milestone in our economic diversification strategy”, added Antonio Medina Comas, executive director of PRIDCO.

 

This will be Honeywell’s second Aerospace site in Puerto Rico, complementing its already successful operation in Aguadilla.