Northwest Aerospace News February | March Issue No. 13 | Page 15

N
ew innovation will help improve sustain-
ability of the world’s preferred mode of travel,
as well. GKN’s focus on innovation has made
them leaders in the “future of flight” technol-
ogies that are key to unlocking zero-emission
flights. Electrification, hydrogen-powered
engines, and additive manufacturing are all top
priorities in GKN research and development
focus areas. As both a critical supplier and a
leading technology innovator, GKN is on the
cutting-edge in the industry on both fronts. In an
effort to remain relevant and sustainable in their
own operations, GKN announced on Septem-
ber 3rd of this year, that it is launching into a
major reorganization in 2020. Effective January
1, 2020, GKN Aerospace will undergo global
integration in order to create a simpler, more
competitive, customer-focused business.
The organization has grown rapidly through ac-
quisitions over recent years, increasing in scale
from £600 million in 2006 to more than £3.5
billion at the end of 2018. Headquartered in the
UK, GKN today is structured with four inde-
pendent divisions, each focused around products
and internal capabilities. They currently have 25
sites in North America and 25 sites in Europe
and Asia, the newest of which was officially
opened in Pune, India the first week of Decem-
ber 2019. This site will focus on the assembly
of wiring systems for commercial aircraft and
aero-engines like the Airbus A320neo, Boeing
737, 777X and Boeing 787. At their domestic
locations, GKN operates a facility in the North-
west aerospace hub, in Sumner, Washington,
that specializes in anti-corrosion and painting of
advanced winglets, namely for the 737 MAX.
In their new structure, GKN Aerospace will
fully integrate as one business, with custom-
er-facing teams and a single, connected network
of global sites, all supported by shared services.
Bowman clarifies that “The new structure will
enable the business to better serve its customers,
improve operational performance, collaborate
internally, and maximize its potential for future
growth.”
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