MAN Diesel SAS Inaugurates Saint-Nazaire PrimeServ Academy
New PrimeServ Academy
In the presence of Dr Stephan Timmermann, member of the MAN Diesel Executive Board, and the mayor of Saint-Nazaire, Joël-Guy Batteux, the new MAN Diesel training centre – PrimeServ Academy – was inaugurated in Saint-Nazaire, France. As part of its active customer-service-related strategy, the PrimeServ network has acquired a new, significant asset with the new academy.
Located in the very heart of the St.-Nazaire plant, the PrimeServ Academy showcases diesel engine know-how; moreover it will be a place of expert diesel engine maintenance and operation-related training both for power plants and marine applications. The new academy is the evolution of the Diesel School, which has received 7,000 trainees from 125 different countries over the last 35 years. The PrimeServ Academy will also act as support for the internal training of new MAN Diesel engineers, technicians and workers. In 2008 alone, 52 people were recruited under permanent contract.
The teaching programme established for the international PrimeServ Academy network will be conducted both in French and English by three instructors in a new building designed to accommodate 36 trainees. Equipped with advanced, interactive, educational solutions. Practical training is the main focus with a demonstration hall to facilitate theoretical and practical exercises where trainees will be placed in real-life situations and learn the necessary skills.
The vast resources put at the disposal of the PrimeServ Academy will allow it to meet the important training demands generated by the recent order from EDF. This order covers the delivery of 54 large 18V48/60 MAN Diesel engines for a total power of 1,025MW. These will all be assembled in Saint-Nazaire and will be installed in 6 turnkey power plants in French overseas departments and in Corsica. Connection to the grid is scheduled between 2010 and 2012.
The International PrimeServ Academy Network MAN Diesel has established a network of PrimeServ Academies to introduce its service engineers and customers with current diesel-engine and turbocharger-programme technology. 30 people are currently employed at five PrimeServ Academies, which are located in Augsburg (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Frederikshavn (Denmark) and Stockport (UK), and now Saint-Nazaire (France). In 2008, more than 3,000 service engineers from MAN Diesel and its customers were trained in MAN Diesel products, which are used in the maritime and power-plant businesses.
