INDUSTRY PROFILE GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace is the global market-leading provider of military transparency systems and is one of the two lead providers to the commercial aircraft transparency market for both original fit and aftermarket support. GKN Aerospace cockpit windows, windshields, passenger cabin windows and wingtip lenses exceed industry performance benchmarks across the board and are the reliable, low-risk products of choice for operators worldwide. The company supports the full range of aircraft, from supersonic military applications such as the F-35 Lightning II (JSF) canopy and the Eurofigher Typhoon to the latest in commercial aircraft transparencies such as the B747- 8 cockpit window and extra-large, state of the art, B787 passenger cabin window. GKN Aerospace transparencies are also standard on a variety of passenger airliners, business aircraft, and special mission aircraft where the company supports mature fleets through its highly effective aftermarket activity. The GKN Aerospace’s CrystalVue II™ passenger cabin window has been selected for all recently launched commercial aircraft programmes - B787, C-Series, A350, MRJ, B747-8 - as well as the Bombardier Global 7000/8000 and is standard fit on all Boeing and Embraer aircraft and on all Airbus long range aircraft. Well over two million of these market leading, abrasion-resistant, coated windows are in service whilst the company’s proven cockpit windshields provide military and commercial operators with unmatched protection against moisture ingress. This reduces the risk of delamination and electrical system failure that can lead to unscheduled aircraft downtime and premature windshield removal. GKN Aerospace designs, analyses, tests and certifies military canopies, aircraft cockpit and passenger cabin windows, bringing together industry-leading developments in advanced coatings with a secure, vertically integrated supply of aerospace grade acrylic material. These factors, along with the company’s expertise in high strength, light weight glass processing techniques, are key to its dominant market position and to the success of the company’s long term collaborative relationships with all major aircraft OEM’s and with many commercial and military aircraft operators. As operators and prime manufacturers demand more performance and endurance from their aircraft transparencies, GKN Aerospace is effectively positioned to develop solutions that meet these evolving requirements. Exploiting the company’s industry leading Crystal Vue II coating expertise, GKN Aerospace has developed a number of proprietary coatings for both its transparency product range and more recently for its structures activities. These proprietary coatings have the potential to provide even greater performance and service life through combination of improved abrasion, wear and chemical
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avm-mag.com | August / September 2012
resistance, solar heat shielding, ice, rain and fog repellence. For military applications, these coatings offer greater erosion, sand, dust and foreign object damage (FOD) resistance and p-static tolerance and will lead to improved longevity in theatre. The company is currently exploring the application of these coatings in a number of environments. All three of GKN Aerospace’s transparency manufacturing sites
offer certified repair station services for commercial and military applications and provide global support to aircraft operators with comprehensive component overhaul services and factory new replacement windows. Effective distribution and stocking of transparencies globally provides airline customers with consistent availability and reduced lead times to support operator needs. With sales of GBP1.5bn in 2011, GKN Aerospace is a world leading global first tier supplier of airframe and engine structures, components, assemblies, and transparencies to a wide range of aircraft and engine prime contractors and other first tier suppliers. The company has a global customer base, operates in both civil and military markets and has significant participation on all major aircraft programmes.
GKN plc is a global engineering group with sales of GBP 6.1billion in 2011. It has four divisions GKN Driveline, GKN Powder Metallurgy, GKN Aerospace and GKN Land Systems, which operate in the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. Approximately 44,000 people work in GKN companies and joint ventures in more than 35 countries.
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