New GKN Aerospace factory inaugurated - collaboration drives innovation and sustainability
GKN Aerospace has officially opened its new high-tech factory in Trollhättan, focusing on sustainable production and innovation in the aerospace industry. The inauguration, which was led by Minister for Infrastructure Andreas Carlson, emphasized the importance of collaboration between business, research and government to drive development forward.
Last spring, GKN Aerospace in Trollhättan received SEK 152 million from the Swedish Energy Agency's Industriklivet initiative, as part of a total investment of SEK 600 million. The purpose of the support was to be able to build the world's first commercial facility with additive manufacturing of aircraft engine components. With laser welding as the technology base, GKN Aerospace can now manufacture components that are larger than a human being, which is unique in the world.
I am absolutely convinced that, especially in Trollhättan, there is cutting-edge expertise that has been built up over several decades. I am proud of it!
Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure
Additive manufacturing transforming the aerospace industry
By providing a platform for industry-oriented research and technological development, PTC has helped to create the conditions for the advanced production solutions that are now in place in the new factory.
Traditional production technology has been to mill the components out of a metal block. With additive technology, GKN Aerospace will instead build up the engine component piece by piece, using layers of metal wire or powder. GKN Aerospace expects to use about 80 percent less material thanks to the new production technology.
- "We are now building the world's first commercial facility for additive manufacturing of large structural aircraft engine components, which also has a clear bearing on sustainability issues, both in terms of energy and material consumption. By combining the expertise we have with advanced additive manufacturing, we can now produce components on a scale that has not been possible before," says Martin Wänblom, CEO of GKN Aerospace Sweden.
Designed to meet energy efficiency and sustainability requirements, the plant will play a key role in the development of lighter and more sustainable components for future aircraft. The technological investment represents a major step towards reducing both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in the aviation industry.
PTC contributes to technological development
- This is the result of a long-term collaboration between academia, industry, authorities and supporting organizations, with the Production Technology Center as an important arena where everyone meets. This strengthens our ability to lead technological innovation," says Martin Wänblom, CEO of GKN Aerospace Sweden.
The opening of GKN Aerospace's new factory marks an important step towards the sustainable aerospace technology of the future. Here, collaboration between players such as GKN Aerospace and PTC has proved to be an important platform for making this vision a reality.
- The initiative is a fantastic acknowledgment that the Production Technology Center creates the conditions for the development of groundbreaking technology that can seriously reduce the industry's climate footprint and strengthen Swedish competitiveness, says Linda Bohlin Trajkovski, CEO of Innovatum Science Park
