This week saw Diehl Aviation inaugurate its new production facility in Craiova, Romania, which will expand the company’s capacity for manufacturing aircraft cabin and systems components for commercial aircraft. The facility will become an integral part of Diehl Aviation’s production system alongside its operations in Germany, Hungary and Mexico.
The Craiova facility, in the Dolj region of Romania, will initially manufacture established products already in serial production within Diehl Aviation’s manufacturing network, including manually laminated composite cabin components, insulation blankets, and tanks for aircraft water and waste systems.
The new facility, which was developed and completed in less than one year, covers more than 12,000 square meters of production and office space on a 33,500 square metre plot. The facility represents a “mid-double-digit million Euro” investment by Diehl Aviation.
Production is scheduled to start in autumn 2026, with around 75 employees supporting the initial operational phase, and plans in place to expand the workforce to up to 500 employees in the medium term. The site has been designed to accommodate future expansion if required.
To support the start of production, in February this year employees began a programme of extensive training in aerospace manufacturing, quality management and safety requirements, to ensure the Craiova operation has the same standards and processes used throughout Diehl Aviation’s global manufacturing network.
Romania offers a strong industrial base and access to highly skilled talent. To support future growth, Diehl Aviation is establishing partnerships with regional universities and educational institutions to develop engineering and manufacturing expertise for the aerospace sector.
The company also intends to foster local supplier and service-provider structures around the site, contributing to the long-term development of the regional aerospace ecosystem.
The building and production infrastructure have been fully electrified, eliminating the use of natural gas as an energy source. A rooftop photovoltaic system, currently under implementation, will further increase the share of renewable electricity used on site and reduce Diehl Aviation’s carbon footprint.
