The new site, known as Filton-West, will be under the management of the recently acquired GKN Aerospace – Filton and will house a state-of-the-art automated composites manufacturing operation. From January 2010 the plant will manufacture composite wing spars and trailing edge assemblies for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.
“With the addition of this facility, we will be able commence our significant package of work for the A350 and begin activity to support an extended customer base,” says GKN Aerospace Chief Executive, Marcus Bryson. “We are investing in our workforce and facilities here in Bristol, positioning the entire operation to be ready to support a wide range of customers and to take a significant part of the global wing structures market, including Next Generation Single Aisle (NGSA) programmes, over the next 30-40 years.”
GKN Aerospace - Filton has 1500 employees. GKN Aerospace – Filton West is expected to add up to 250 jobs in the coming decade.