The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark and the Chief Executive of GKN Aerospace, Hans Büthker together have revealed plans for GKN Aerospace’s new Global Technology Centre in the UK.
The new centre – funded by a £17 million commitment from GKN Aerospace and a £15 million commitment from the UK Government, through the Aerospace Technology Institute – is expected to open in 2020. Once open the 10,000 m² facillity will host 300 highly skilled engineers, and will include collaborative space for research and development with universities, the UK’s CATAPULT network and GKN Aerospace’s UK supply chain.
The centre will focus on additive manufacturing (AM), advanced composites, assembly and industry 4.0 processes to enable the high rate production of aircraft structures. The GTC will maintain GKN Aerospace’s position at the forefront of technology development for the next generation of energy efficient aircraft. The facility will serve as a base for GKN Aerospace’s technology partnership in the Airbus’ ”Wing of Tomorrow” technology programme as well as new additive manufacturing programmes.
The Bristol centre joins a growing list of GKN Aerospace Centres of Technical Excellence around the world. Each centre has a unique technology focus – covering AM, thermoplastics and smart aero-engine systems – and is supported and linked by a clear digital strategy.