Aerospace Highlights

GKN Aerospace is a leading supplier of airframe and engine structures, components, assemblies and engineering services to aircraft prime contractors and other first tier suppliers.

It provides design and manufacturing capabilities in three main product areas: aerostructures (fuselage, wing and flight control surface assemblies and components), propulsion systems (engine and nacelle components and assemblies) and special products (transparencies and protection systems).

GKN Aerospace is a leader in the design and manufacture of advanced composites, transparencies and complex metal structures.

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01 Final inspection of a titanium bulkhead for the F/A-18 fighter jet at GKN’s Aerospace plant in Amityville, New York in the US. The plant was part of Stellex Aerostructures, a specialist in complex metal structures acquired by GKN in 2006.

02 Following selection by Aviation Partners Boeing in April 2007, GKN Aerospace is responsible for the manufacture of the 7 ft tall B737 blended winglet.

03 The Airbus A380 is one of the world’s major new aircraft programmes which make extensive use of composites. GKN Aerospace uses its composite expertise to supply a range of structures for the wing and the rudder assembly as well as metallic components for variants which use the GP7000 engine.

Milestones achieved in 2007

April

Selected by Aviation Partners Boeing to develop and build winglets for Boeing 767 and 737 aircraft

Blended winglets are wing tip devices which, by reducing drag, offer impressive environmental and performance benefits. The agreement covers the supply of up to 300 767-300 ER and 200 737-300/500 blended winglet shipsets.

May

Awarded fuselage aft transition design and development contract on the Sikorsky CH-53K

Using the latest design and manufacturing technologies to incorporate a number of high performance emerging materials and advanced manufacturing methods, GKN Aerospace is contracted to deliver seven development shipsets between 2009 and 2012.

June

Acquisition of Teleflex Aerospace Manufacturing Group

Teleflex, a leading manufacturer of complex engine components, produces engine cases, fan blades, blisks, impellers and other components for the aerospace engine and power generation markets. The acquisition strengthens GKN Aerospace’s position in the engine component sector.

December

Selected by Airbus as the preferred partner to acquire their UK wing aerostructures plant

Following a successful bid, GKN Aerospace entered exclusive negotiations with Airbus to acquire their wing component and sub-assembly manufacturing facility at Filton in the UK, including the award of significant composite work packages for the A350 XWB wing.