Earlier this year, GKN Aerospace opened a new £32 million, 10,000 square metre, UK Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Bristol and has secured 25 collaboration partners for the new centre.
The GTC - funded by a £17 million commitment from GKN Aerospace and £15 million commitment from the UK Government, through the ATI Programme – is expected to open in 2020.
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 industrialisation programmes.
Commenting CEO of GKN Aerospace ASEA, John Pritchard said: “We are proud to have taken the next step in the UK GTC development with our groundbreaking in April and we are excited that so many partners have joined us. Our GTC is designed to support GKN Aerospace’s UK workforce and close collaboration with the world-class UK aerospace ecosystem, building on joint expertise, talent and infrastructure. A great example of the UK’s industrial strategy approach, the GTC will take aerospace innovation to the next level and ensure that UK Aerospace industry will continue to operate at the forefront of global aerospace.”