2024-01-12 16:07:00
GKN Aerospace will invest £50 million in more sustainable production of aircraft parts. By no longer forging or casting parts but making them with additive manufacturing technology, GKN Aerospace wants to drastically reduce material waste.
The investment in AM systems, among other things, takes place at the factory in Trollhättan, Sweden. The Swedish energy agency Industriklivet is responsible for £12 million of the investment. These activities will create approximately 150 new jobs.
Fundamental change
In the aircraft parts that GKN Aerospace produces, up to 80% of the material – forged or cast – is machined. By making the parts with AM, the British group wants to reduce material consumption, reduce energy consumption and also reduce the impact of transportation, because heavy forgings and castings do not have to be transported to the factory. This significantly reduces emissions, costs and lead time. Peter Engdahl, Head of Research, Innovation and Business Development at the Swedish Energy Agency says: “The solution of GKN Aerospace will be able to contribute to reduced use of raw materials and create opportunities to fundamentally change the design, making the aircraft engine lighter and more efficient. This is the first time this technology has been tested for this component size and we see the potential for this technology to spread globally and into other areas as well.”
Groundbreaking technology
Joakim Andersson, president of GKN Aerospace’s Engines business, sees additive manufacturing as a technology that might revolutionize the production of large, complex and load-bearing aircraft parts. He calls the support of the Swedish government crucial to take this step. GKN Aerospace has been involved in additive manufacturing for almost two decades, for which it has three R&D centers.
Foto: GKN Aerospace
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