Global aerospace and automotive engineering Group GKN, has announced it has pulled its global Additive Manufacturing activity together into one new brand: GKN Additive.
GKN has been a global leader in AM for decades, with aerospace components produced, certified and flying on seven major platforms today, and AM parts driving in today’s cars.
GKN is also a specialist powder producer through its Powder Metallurgy division.
Operating from global centres of excellence in four countries, GKN Additive will act as the focal point for all this activity in the future.
The new centres will enable GKN to further push the boundaries of the technology and strengthen the group’s position as a global AM leader.
GKN’s dual expertise both in powder production and manufacturing enables transformative and competitive solutions for its customers.
Jos Sclater, head of strategy at GKN, said: “GKN Additive is an incredibly exciting venture and the potential applications for the technology are endless.
“The benefits of AM are significant, both for our customers and the world around us in terms of greener, more efficient production. There is also a tangible feeling that manufacturing is suddenly a very exciting place to be for the brightest and best engineering talent.
“That is great for the future of the industry and I am delighted that GKN Additive will be at the forefront of this revolution.”
Producing AM components for industrial use requires four essential elements:
- understanding of the raw materials (metal powder)
- process knowledge to decide which AM technology to use (for example selective laser sintering, powder bed or laser metal deposition)
- manufacturing expertise to produce the component itself
- the ability to certify or qualify the parts for use in industry
