MIDDLETOWN, Conn., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney completed the first phase of an assembly-floor transformation project at its Middletown, Conn., facility that prepares the Engine Center to produce its portion of PurePower® PW1100G-JM engines for the Airbus A320neo and increases production capacity for the F135 engine powering the F-35 Lightning II for the U.S. Military. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

Pratt & Whitney leadership and employees gathered today in Middletown for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark this significant milestone, which is part of a larger company initiative to transform Pratt & Whitney's manufacturing sites as they prepare to deliver a record volume of engines.

"This is a time of transformation at Pratt & Whitney," said Joe Sylvestro, vice president, Manufacturing Operations, Pratt & Whitney. "This new addition to the engine facility in Middletown will play a pivotal role in the production ramp-up for our PurePower engines. This achievement was truly a team effort and signifies our ongoing investment to meeting our customer commitments by delivering game-changing engine technology within a lean manufacturing operation."

The PurePower PW1100G-JM engines deliver benefits including double-digit reductions in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs compared with today's jet engines. The F135 engine powers the F-35 Lightning II - a stealthy, supersonic, multirole 5th Generation fighter designed for U.S. and international partner requirements.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

    Stephanie Duvall            Laura Cassella
    Pratt & Whitney             Pratt & Whitney
    + 1-860-557-1382            + 1-860-565-0611
    stephanie.duvall@pw.utc.com laura.cassella@pw.utc.com

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney