GKN AEROSPACE - A GLOBAL AEROSPACE LEADER
GKN Aerospace is one of the world’s largest independent first tier suppliers to the global aviation
industry. With over 100 years’ aerospace experience, we harness our expertise and technological
skills to design and manufacture complex, high-performance, high-value metallic and composite
assemblies for airframes and aero-engines as well as landing gear, glass, acrylic and polycarbonate
transparencies, wiring systems and elastomeric products.
Since 2005 our annual sales have more than doubled to circa £3bn (2014) through strategic
acquisitions and organic growth. Today we employ over 17,000 people in 61 locations across 3
continents and 15 countries and in all our areas of business we are a market-leading supplier.
Substantial investment in strategically directed technological research and development maintains our
market positions, delivering real and practical benefits to our customers. Partnering with the world’s
major airframers and engine OEMs, we deliver real competitive advantage - along with best value and
performance.
By revenue:
Aerostructures – global #2
Engine systems – global #2
Transparencies and ice-protection systems – global #1
Wiring – global #3
Landing gear – global #8
Composites
As a major, independent design and build partner of composite aircraft structures, GKN Aerospace is
advancing production techniques and defining new applications for composites, focused on meeting
advancing aerostructure and engine requirements. Our methodologies deliver high quality composite
components to rigorous and consistent standards, while reducing time and cost in the manufacturing
cycle.
Advanced Metallics and Additive Manufacture
The use of advanced metallics remains at the heart of future airframe and aero-engine design and our
metallics expertise is contributing to all the latest aero-engine programmes. The company is
investigating new materials and processes that could revolutionise metallic structure manufacture and
advance the evolving requirement for hybrid structures. Our expertise today includes the application
of a range of additive manufacturing processes, state-of-the-art machining of advanced, ultra-hard
materials and a range of fabrication and forming processes that transform metals into complex shapes
and structures. All our developments are focused on delivering engine and airframe structures to
exacting specifications that will bring improved performance at lower weight and cost.
Engine Systems
Our engine systems operation is a major independent engine components business, with solid
partnerships and life-of-programme positions on existing platforms, strong long-term customer
relationships and a pipeline of new technology underway. GKN Aerospace designs and manufactures
components for turbines including: turbine, combustor and compressor structures; fan blades and
cases, blisks, compressor rotors; LPT (low pressure turbine) cases; shafts and vanes.
Landing Gear
Our landing gear operation designs, produces, repairs and overhauls landing gear systems for both
rotary and fixed wing aircraft and produces a variety of hydro-mechanical assemblies such as
actuators and transmissions. They offer light, durable, cost-efficient systems that perform under the
most extreme of conditions and meet rigorous safety standards.
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Wiring
Our wiring systems operation is a market leader in the design, manufacture and support of the
electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) for aerospace and defense programmes, bringing
innovative tools and effective process support to customers’ aircraft, aero-engine and defense
systems.
Transparencies
Our military and civil transparency systems operation has collaborative relationships with all major
aircraft OEM’s and many commercial and military aircraft operators. Our advanced transparent
coatings and aerospace grade acrylic materials are among the keys to our strong market position
along with our expertise in high strength, lightweight glass technologies. We offer a full design,
analysis, test and certification service across military canopies, cockpit windows and passenger cabin
windows.
Special Products
GKN Aerospace has also developed a range of niche market capabilities that extend the functionality
of our products: Advanced coatings extend the life of structures and dramatically reduce maintenance;
Ice protection systems combine this coatings expertise with our composites manufacturing
capabilities. In these ice protection systems our metallic Spraymat™ coating, is applied to the
composite structure to create a “smart structure”. Adding a control system then provides highly
effective and controllable electro-thermal ice protection; Elastomeric products provide market leading,
lightweight, high performance protection for aerospace and defence customers. Products include selfsealing, crashworthy and explosion suppressant fuel tanks, emergency flotation systems, sea trays,
fuel handling systems and silicone seals.
MRO and Services
Our entire product range is backed by a complete aftermarket service. We work in partnership and
collaboration with OEMs, MRO providers and global stockists delivering support through a network of
worldwide ‘one-stop-shop’ centres. These repair stations are fully FAA/EASA certified and provide
comprehensive logistics, engineering, technical publications and PMA support. Our transparencies
operation provides a comprehensive, global AOG transparencies replacement service whilst our
engine systems operation provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for both airlines
and operators. This business holds full OEM licenses, has national airworthiness approvals and offers
tailored engine maintenance solutions with service teams on standby to provide on-site support and
around-the-clock expert technical services - as well as lease engines. The business also holds a wide
range of approvals for the repair of engine fan blades, compressor blades, fan disks and fan cases.
Our integrated, knowledge based aircraft services organization partners with manufacturers, owners
and operators of aircraft in the continued competitive operation of their fleet by increasing technical
dispatch reliability (TDR) and passenger comfort while reducing direct operating cost (DOC). As a
unique and valuable partner for the global aerospace industry, supporting a large fleet of various
aircraft types they have earned a recognized position. Capabilities include Component Availability
Programs, Flight hour based Component Repairs, Engineering and Documentation Support and
Airframe Maintenance, Modifications, Conversion and Completion capabilities.
GKN Aerospace is a leading innovator the aerospace and defence sectors, committed to working in
partnership with airframe and engine primes to provide the most effective solutions to market
requirements today and in the future.
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