GKN Aerospace's Extended Engine Structures Support Business Features at MRO Europe, 2012

GKN Aerospace’s extended aero-engine aftermarket operation is a focus for the company on booth 11250 at MRO Europe, 9 – 11 October in Amsterdam, alongside its established MRO activities across transparencies, composites and ice protection.

GKN Aerospace completed the acquisition of Volvo Aero on 1st October, 2012, and created GKN Aerospace Engine Systems - an operation that takes its place among the leading three aero engine component suppliers globally and includes an established OEM authorised facility that services some 200 engines each year and has a team of skilled field service personnel. All levels of engine maintenance are undertaken, up to and including full overhaul and test of commercial and military aero engines. The MRO (Europe) display will also feature GKN Aerospace’s established engine fan blade repair activity, currently supplied to over 180 airlines and overhaul shops worldwide.

The company’s transparencies support business will be represented with a display of replacement windows currently supplied for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft including the full suite of Airbus A320 transparencies and the innovative, larger scale window developed for the Boeing 787.

Effective and cost effective composite repair continues to be a focus for the industry and the GKN Aerospace stand will include an A380 panel illustrating current composite repair techniques alongside a display illustrating progress with the company’s laser composite repair development programme. This is on-going development activity with SLCR of Germany with the aim of bringing to market an effective laser-based process for the removal of damaged composite fibre.

The company will also display its ultra-controllable, lightweight electro-thermal ice protection technology, used for the wing ice protection system for the B-787 and will be discussing progress with new intelligent coatings. One medium term goal in this area is to offer customers a coating that, when applied to composite structure, will provide an ultra-violet visual indication should there be impact damage.

Mike McCann, Senior VP Business Development and Strategy at GKN Aerospace comments: “Our new aero-engines support operation, housed within GKN Aerospace Engine Systems, joins a stable of established and respected MRO activities supporting all of our businesses. We believe this will bring opportunities to offer our expertise to new markets, customers and programmes across the globe.”