Annual Report 2008 in PDF - GKN

In January 2009 GKN completed the acquisition of the Airbus
wing component and sub-assembly facility at Filton, a
manufacturing and assembly specialist for wing components
such as leading and trailing edges, ribs and pylons. GKN also
secured life of programme contracts with Airbus across its
complete product range and an order to design and produce
large-scale composite structures for the wing of the new A350
XWB aircraft.
GKN delivers the fi rst state of the art Future Lynx airframe
Working in partnership with AgustaWestland, GKN implemented an effective design-to-cost
methodology to create a highly effective and efficient operational airframe for Future Lynx
helicopters, the first of which was delivered during the year.
GKN achieved the challenging technological goals
for the airframe by adopting innovative techniques
across the manufacturing process. Extensive use
was made of monolithic machined components,
replacing a traditional fabricated detail structure,
to realise an 80% reduction in parts count when
compared with the existing Super Lynx airframe.
Three-dimensional design modelling ensured highly
accurate part-to-part assembly, and state of the art
assembly tooling, which rotates through 360
degrees and has vertical movement for ease of
access, greatly enhanced the speed and efficiency of
the assembly process.
GKN is responsible for supplying complete, assembled
airframes for Future Lynx helicopters for the British Army
and Royal Navy. Assembly of the airframe takes place at
GKN’s Yeovil facility which, for the last seven years, has
supplied all Lynx airframes, including those for a number
of successful export programmes.
Business Review
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Aerospace
www.gkn.com 33
Sales*
22%
of total Group sales
£1,002m
(2007 – £820m)
Trading Profi t*
48%
of total Group
trading profi t
£105m
(2007 – £83m)
* on a management basis