GENERAL ELECTRIC's engine service business at Nantgarw has become the first link in a worldwide chain of service centres for engines powering the new Airbus A380 superjumbo.

The first plane was wheeled out in Toulouse last week and although its air trials are some way off, the world's airlines have already ordered 150.

Customers can choose whether they want Rolls-Royce engines or the GP7200 model made by the Engine Alliance.

The alliance is a joint venture between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. Currently it believes it has secured over 60 per cent of the A380's engine orders.

The servicing contract is worth several million dollars to the Nantgarw factory and will introduce a new product line.

Despite being one of the alliance's group companies, GE Wales had to bid for the work and won the contract against "significant competition worldwide."

Its bid was supported by the Assembly with a regional selective assistance grant.

Assembly minister for economic development and transport, Andrew Davies, described the win as a coup for Wales and an indication of the technological expertise at the Nantgarw facility.

This new service contract will run for at least 25 years and should play a significant role in the development of the Nantgarw facility.

Around 760 engineers and technicians work at the site, making GE Wales one of the region's leading engineering employers.

Mr Davies said: "This is another example of the growing strength of Wales' aerospace industry.

"Not only are all the wings for the Airbus A380 manufactured in North Wales but the GP7200 engine that will power a large proportion of these aircraft will be maintained, repaired, tested and overhauled in Nantgarw.

"This will be done in a hi-tech, multi million pound test cell."

Mr Davies said aerospace is a key sector in Wales providing more than 20,000 jobs of which 10,000 are in the maintenance repair and overhaul segment.

"This alone contributes around 1billion a year to the Welsh economy," he said.

GE Wales managing director Karl Fessenden said: "Once again our depth of experience and skills has been recognised at an international level.

"We are ready to take on the GP7200 as a new product offering and are proud to be named as the first service centre for the engine.

"The engine service sector in Wales is obviously growing in capabilities and is a real testament to the efforts of our skilled workforce and the support we receive from the Assembly and the Welsh Development Agency.