GKN Aerospace becomes tier one member of UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre
The company joins other major U.K.-active aerospace manufacturers, including Airbus and Rolls-Royce.

GKN Aerospace delivers first composite winglets for Bombardier CSeries
After three years of design, test and initial manufacturing, GKN Aerospace has delivered the first production set of winglets to Bombardier Aerospace for the new Bombardier CSeries 100- to 149-seat commercial aircraft.

A400M wing assembly: Challenge of integrating composites
The Atlas military transport’s decade of development has lighted the path for Airbus wing development on the A350 and future programs.

GKN Aerospace, SAMC extend composites agreement for COMAC 919
GKN Aerospace will manufacture and assemble the composite horizontal tail plane for the COMAC 919 narrow-body aircraft being made by Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. (SAMC).

GKN completes Volvo Aero acquisition
GKN's acquisition of Volvo Aero increases GKN's metals expertise and presence, particularly in aircraft engine manufacturing.

2012 Farnborough International Airshow Report
The biennial U.K. air event delivered the clear message that the aerospace industry — and aerospace composites with it — continue to soar.

Biz Briefs: September 2012 HPC
Business briefs from Umeco, AXSON, GKN Aerospace, HITCO, Matrix and T.E.A.M.

GKN to make winglets, ailerons for Bombardier business jets
GKN Aerospace's Munich, Germany, facility will design and manufacture ailerons, while the company's Isle of Wight, U.K., facility will make winglets for the Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 long-range business jets.

Volvo Aero acquired by GKN
Volvo Aero, the aero engine division of AB Volvo, engineers and manufactures components and subassemblies for aircraft engine turbines and has positions on most major civil aerospace platforms.

GKN Aerospace to provide composites for Bell 525 Relentless helicopter
Two GKN Aerospace facilities in the United States will manufacture key metal and composite structures for the cockpit, cabin and tailboom on the new 525 Relentless helicopter fuselage.

Composite fuselage helps HondaJet upend biz-jet market
CFRP composites enable unitized structure with low-drag aerodynamics that transform aircraft performance and reduce cost.

GKN Aerospace opens new U.K. composite wing facility
The new plant in Bristol manufactures the A350 XWB all-composite rear wing spars and assembly of wing trailing edge and main landing gear parts to the spars; it also makes the all-composite main wing spars for the A400M military transporter.

GKN developing laser-based, automated composite repair system
GKN Aerospace has partnered with SCLR Lasertechnik GmbH to develop a robotically controlled laser technology that removes damaged composite structure on aircraft.

SCRA, composites and the U.S. Navy
Background on the South Carolina Research Authority.

Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace joint venture opens aero-engine facility
Joint venture firm CTAL has built a £14.8 million facility on the Isle of Wight to pilot manufacturing processes for aero-engine fan blades and fan cases made of composite materials.

Biz Briefs
News from National Aerospace Laboratory in The Netherlands, Kaman Corp., Vermont Composites, Royal Engineered Composites and GKN Aerospace.

The markets: Aerospace (2012)
With the The Boeing Co.'s (Seattle, Wash.) 787 jetliner now in production, the glare of international attention has turned to the A350 XWB, Airbus’ (Toulouse, France) answer to the Dreamliner. Scheduled for delivery in 2013, the A350 XWB likewise features an airframe that is more than 50 percent composites by weight. Meanwhile, delays experienced by Boeing and Airbus have opened the door for regional jet builders to move in on the single-aisle market still dominated by the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. And as budget difficulties plague government space programs, private efforts flourished despite the recession, and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market flourished as well, particularly in military applications.

GKN composites featured in first flight of second X-47B
GKN Aerospace reports that it fabricated composite, aluminum and titanium structures in the wing and fuselage for the second X-47B unmanned aircraft system, developed by Northrop Grumman.

GKN's new facility in South Carolina will support HondaJet work
GKN Aerospace will establish a 150,000-sq-ft facility in Orangeburg, S.C., USA, to assemble the all-composite fuselage for Honda's new HondaJet business jet.

GKN wins contract for HondaJet composite fuselage
GKN Aerospace has won a production contract with Honda Aircraft Co. as a supplier of the composite, bonded fuselage for the HondaJet business jet. Production will be done at GKN's plant in Tallassee, Ala., USA.

GKN wins $850 million follow-on contract with Boeing
GKN composites and metal work for Boeing Defense Space and Security involves C-17, F/A-18D/F Super Hornet, F/A-18EA/18G Growler attack aircraft and the F-15D Eagle multi-role strike fighter.

GKN wins lifetime contract for Dassault Aviation wing structure
GKN Aerospace's new Filton, U.K., facility will design and build the wing moveable surfaces for Dassault's next-generation super mid-sized (SMS) business jet, due to enter service in 2016.

GKN Aerospace to begin carbon fiber recycling
Over the next year, GKN Aerospace expects to send 100 metric tonnes of uncured carbon fiber to U.K.-based Recycled Carbon Fibre Ltd.

British consortium to showcase composites manufacturing technologies
U.K.'s i-Composites consortium, led by GKN Aerospace, has concluded a one-year challenge to progress innovations in composite manufacturing technologies. The consortium will now focus on exhibiting results of its work.

Microwave: An alternative to the autoclave?
Aerospace composites manufacturer GKN evaluates microwave oven practicality and cost-effectiveness.

Aeroindustryjobs: Jobs of the week, Feb. 8, 2011
Aerospace job opportunities from Aeroindustryjobs.com at Hexcel, TenCate and GKN Aerospace Services Structures Corp.

Out-of-autoclave prepregs: Hype or revolution?
Oven-cured, vacuum-bagged prepregs show promise in production primary structures.

GKN A350 spar program update
Automated fiber placement to replace established tape laying/drape forming process for the composite rear spars on the new midsize commercial passenger jet.

GKN Aerospace wins Airbus design and analysis work
The GKN Aerospace engineering resource will be employed in supporting the Airbus serial program team on wing engineering.

Dark Matter to manage training at GKN for composite wing production
GKN Aerospace personnel at the company's Filton, U.K., facility will learn processing for manual and automated fiber placement technologies for production of composite rear spars.

GKN delivers first major composite structural assembly for CH-53K helicopter
The CH-53K helicopter’s aft transition fuselage section measures approximately 20 ft long by 9 ft wide and 9 ft high and features an advanced hybrid composite, aluminium and titanium structure covered with external composite skins.

GKN Aerospace wins contracts for composite flaps on A350 XWB
GKN has won two contracts for detailed composite parts for the inboard and outboard landing flaps of the Airbus A350 XWB. Production work will take place at GKN's Munich, Germany, facility.

GKN picks VISTAGY software for CSeries winglet design
GKN Aerospace will use VISTAGY's FiberSIM and SyncroFIT software packages to design winglets for Bombardier's CSeries aircraft program.

GKN-led consortium wins £5 million composites challenge
GKN Aerospace led a group of 23 companies from the marine, automotive and aerospace sectors.

GKN Aerospace to supply composite parts for F-35
GKN Aerospace will supply up to $200 million of composite and metallic structures to BAE Systems for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program.

GKN will build facility to develop all-composite engine fan blades
GKN Aerospace is partnering with Rolls-Royce to build the £14.8 million facility on the Isle of Wight, U.K. GKN also has won a contract to provide composite winglets for the Bombardier CSeries.

GKN, Vestas, Airbus, Rolls-Royce establish new U.K. composites center
Located in southwest England, the 6,000-sq-m facility will open by April 2011.

GKN invests in microwave oven for composites curing
The oven will be used mostly for research, but early data show that GKN could reduce cure times by 50 percent and energy consumption by 90 percent.

Hexcel on hand for GKN groundbreaking
GKN's new composites facility in Filton, U.K., will produce spars for the Airbus A350 XWB using Hexcel's HexPly prepreg carbon fiber.

GKN Aerospace, SLCR to develop laser system for composites repair
GKN Aerospace (Isle of Wight, U. K. ) and SLCR Lasertechnik (Düren, Germany) have agreed to develop automated laser repair for composite structures on aircraft.

GKN wins contract to supply nacelles for Bombardier planes
Composites specialist GKN will supply the nacelles over a three-year period as part of a $10 million contract.

GKN produces prototype spars for A350 XWB
GKN Aerospace engineers in Germany and the U.K. have produced prototype carbon fiber composite spars for Airbus' A350 XWB wing box demonstrator.

GKN looks to expand U.K. wing facility
GKN Aerospace plans to expand its Easter Compton, U.K., facility to accommodate construction of composite wing structures for the Airbus A350 XWB.

GKN assumes control of former Airbus UK plant
GKN bought the facility from Airbus and will likely make composite structures for the forthcoming Airbus A350 XWB.

Airbus agrees to sell U.K. facility to GKN
GKN reportedly paid more than $243 million for the facility, which will produce carbon fiber composite structures for the A350 XWB wing sets.

GKN, Airbus reportedly reach agreement on Filton facility
A London newspaper says GKN will buy the Filton, U.K., facility from Airbus for £150 million. The plant will make carbon fiber composite wings for the A250 XWB.

GKN wins lifetime supply contract for Honeywell nacelles
The contract covers Honeywell Engine's HTF7500E propulsion system and could could reach $750 million (USD) in total value.

GKN, Airbus reportedly close to Filton deal
GKN has been in negotiations with EADS to purchase the wing-manufacturing facility in Filton, U.K. A deal appears imminent.

GKN purchase of Airbus facility hits snags
GKN is trying to buy Airbus' Filton, U.K., facility, but negotiations are said to be stalled.

SAMPE 2005 Product Showcase
SAMPE's U.S. Symposium and Exhibition highlights technological innovation and market expansion.

SAMPE Wrap Up And Product Showcase
Exhibitions on both sides of the Atlantic spur optimism and spotlight innovative technology.