Honeywell Aerospace announced yesterday that it has moved its Americas market division business facility from Phoenix, Arizona, to Guaynabo, in Rexco Industrial Park. The new headquarters will operate under the name Americas Aftermarket Headquarters.

Honeywell Aerospace has been on the island for 14 years with service facilities in Aguadilla and Moca and is one of the pillars of the aerospace hub in the west.

“They will provide service support to airlines, airports, and aviation business clients, the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, and corporate buildings in Puerto Rico and across the Americas,” Governor Pedro Pierluisi confirmed today.

The governor added that this expansion, together with the Honeywell facilities already on the island, represents” the largest service export project” the island has had with the expectation of billions of dollars in revenues over the next few years and added that it is from Puerto Rico that Honeywell products will operate to the Americas.

Honeywell Aerospace already has identical lines in Asia and Europe. The Guaynabo facilities are estimated to generate revenues of approximately $500 million over the next three years.

“We celebrate that Honeywell Aerospace continues to grow in Puerto Rico since, in addition to its operations located in Moca and Aguadilla, they will now establish a new aerospace facility in Guaynabo. Last year, Honeywell Aerospace recruited more than 175 new employees in Puerto Rico, and, as part of their continued operations on the island, they plan to create approximately 100 new job opportunities by 2022,” said the governor.

Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) Secretary Manuel Cidre said the company’s expansion represents a positive step for the island’s economic development. The company facility y is over 14,000 square feet.

“We can grow and develop our own quality, global demand products. Puerto Ricans have the talent to grow with the new generations. We support advanced manufacturing as a growth area, and the aerospace industry is well-positioned to make it happen. Our economy needs to shift to a high added-value services economy, based on technology and innovation. This will allow our industries and economy to move to the next level,” stated Cidre.

Mike Madsen, president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace, thanked the government’s support, which he assured has been “continuous.”

“Honeywell Aerospace began operating in Puerto Rico in 2007 with only 12 employees. I’m proud to say there are roughly 1,000 now on the island. Honeywell’s world-class facilities in Aguadilla and Moca support everything from the production of jet aircraft engines to the latest high-tech advances in avionics. We conduct state of the art design and testing for a wide range of aerospace products in those facilities, where we have spent more than $4 million in capital projects just in the last three years,” Madsen said.

He said that the new Americas Aftermarket headquarters will be led by Heath Patrick, and the senior executives in that business will be in Guaynabo. The headquarters “will serve airlines and business aviation customers across the Americas.” The engineering teams will “provide new value to our customers.” “When the Aftermarket teams get feedback from our customers, we can translate that feedback into product reliability and design solutions more quickly,” Madsen said.

The Puerto Rico government granted Honeywell Aerospace tax exemptions for 4 percent of the revenues it will generate.

“The difference is that this 4 percent will generate $500 million in income over the next three years, and the difference is that employees working this type of business are highly paid employees,” said the DDEC secretary.

In addition, Cidre expressed confidence that the new facility will help fight the human capital flight.

“It seems to me that this is the right route,” he said.

“Needless to say that this is going to generate tax revenues not projected in the current fiscal plan, and as they materialize, it is yet another reason why Puerto Rico’s fiscal challenges should be behind us,” the governor added.

Honeywell’s CEO expressed confidence that the move of Honeywell’s Phoenix facility to Puerto Rico will “help them develop local talent” at the company.

“Over the years, we have brought in hundreds of interns from across Puerto Rico, and I am proud to say that more than 80 percent have become full-time employees. It is our priority to continue working with local universities and industry groups to move the local aerospace sector forward,” said Madsen.

In Moca, Honeywell Aerospace has an engineering design center and a laboratory used to conduct research and development work in the field of electromagnetic interference and compatibility. While the Aguadilla facility supports Honeywell’s operations and customers throughout the world.

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found virtually in every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cabin and cockpit electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights, and safer skies and airports.