GKN Aerospace receives keys to Global Technology Centre in Bristol

GKN Aerospace (Redditch, U.K.) reported July 23 that the company has taken ownership of its new Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Bristol after the keys were officially handed over by developers St Francis Group (Warwickshire, U.K.). The company says the 110,000-square-foot facility — funded by a £17 million commitment from GKN Aerospace and a £15 million commitment from the U.K. government, via the Aerospace Technology Institute —  will be fully kitted out over the next year, with plans to open in the second half of 2021.

Additionally, the GTC will be GKN Aerospace’s U.K. technology hub and represents a major commitment to developing sustainable next-gen aerospace technology for the Wing of Tomorrow research program. The center will focus on additive manufacturing (AM), advanced composites, assembly and Industry 4.0 processes to enable the high-rate production of aircraft structures.

“This is a real milestone. We are proud to have taken the next step in the U.K. GTC development with this hand over and we look forward to completing the building and making it a great place to work,” says John Pritchard, president of GKN Aerospace’s civil airframe business. “We have dozens of committed industry partners already set to join us at the facility. Together, we shape a more sustainable future of flight.

The U.K. GTC was first announced in December 2018 alongside the U.K. government’s Aerospace Sector Deal. GKN Aerospace has now secured more than 25 collaboration partners for the new Centre, which will house 300 engineers when at full capacity.