Eurocopter officially opened Tuesday its new Systemhaus helicopter development center at Donauwörth, Germany in the presence of Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer.

The facility, which provides workspace for some 900 employees, offers complete system capability for the global helicopter market leader’s production activity at its German location.

This new development center allows Eurocopter to manage the entire lifecycle of its helicopters at one German location, covering all aspects from research, development and prototype construction through manufacturing and final assembly - along with training, maintenance and product improvement.

“Today’s Systemhaus inauguration is a decisive step forward in Eurocopter’s industrial strategy. By gaining the full system capability to develop, manufacture and maintain helicopters in Donauwörth, we generate remarkable advantages in terms of product and technology cycles. It’s a long-term investment with far-reaching impact that ultimately serves both our customers and enhances our competitiveness,” explained Eurocopter CEO Guillaume Faury.

“In the race to the future, the key thing is to always be faster, better and more innovative, and Eurocopter is showing us how it’s done. The new Systemhaus is a pure expression of high-tech innovation, and it is a prime example of what Bavaria has to offer as a location for the aerospace sector,” he added.

EADS CEO Tom Enders said the Systemhaus is part of a series of major investments that EADS has pursued in Germany, and particularly in Bavaria. “Premium AEROTEC has officially opened a new engineering center in Augsburg; Astrium is building a new engine production facility in Ottobrunn; and a planned research campus also is taking shape in Ottobrunn. We are building on Germany’s long tradition of aerospace strength and laying the groundwork for a consolidation of the Group’s leading position in the market,” he said.

Along with office space at Donauwörth, the new Systemhaus building incorporates state-of-the-art testing and research facilities, which include simulators, avionics trainers, laboratories, test centers and a prototype shop. This new center for innovation also is home to the System Support Centre (SUZ) for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) helicopter fleet, including the NH90 and CH-53 transport helicopters, and the Tiger attack helicopter

Since the start of the Systemhaus’ construction in July 2011, Eurocopter has invested some 100 million Euros in the development center project. With a total floor space of 30,000 square meters, the building was the region’s biggest construction project.

A project comparable to the Systemhaus is being realized at the company’s Marignane location, close to Marseille in the south of France.