GKN AEROSPACE TO GROW WORLD-LEADING SUSTAINABLE ADDITIVE FABRICATION CAPABILITY

GKN Aerospace has boosted its commitment to sustainable manufacturing, with a £50 million (600 million SEK) investment in its cutting-edge additive fabrication technology in Trollhättan, Sweden. The Swedish Energy Agency’s Industriklivet initiative will fund £12 million (152 million SEK) of this investment, which will help to revolutionise production methods by reducing raw material usage by up to 80%. The technology will be embedded at GKN Aerospace's Trollhättan facility in Sweden, and will be operational later in 2024.

Currently, aircraft engine components rely on large castings and forgings, with up to 80% of the material machined away before reaching the final form. By employing additive technology, which involves layer-by-layer construction using metal wire or powder fused together with lasers, GKN Aerospace is able to minimise raw material waste, energy use and shipping within production. This significantly cuts emissions, costs and lead time.

GKN Aerospace has been at the forefront of additive fabrication for almost two decades, and has significant research and technology centres in Sweden, the UK and the US. Thanks to the backing from Industriklivet, the new additive production centre in Sweden is projected to create around 150 new job opportunities for operators, technicians, and engineers at the Trollhättan facility.