Leading & trailing edge assemblies
Overview
GKN Aerospace is a major Tier One supplier of integrated Leading and Trailing Edge assemblies.
We leverage our unique & extensive expertise across primary & secondary structures, components, control surfaces & systems in conjunction with core assembly & integration skills to deliver leading & trailing edge assemblies ready to be plugged into our customers’ wing assembly lines.
Advanced automated processes for assembly, spar drilling & fettling, riveting and fastening along with innovative research in close tolerance jointing and determinate assembly allows us to achieve higher levels of integrated product quality & performance. For example, GKN is responsible for the A350 XWB Composite Spar & Fixed Trailing Edge which employs advanced, innovative technologies in a £170M purpose built fully automated assembly plant.
GKN is also responsible for the complete design, development, manufacture & certification of the world’s first large commercial aircraft electro-thermal wing anti-icing system, which is embedded into the leading edge structure on the B787 program.
Advantages
- Greater accuracy, quality & repeatability
- Reduced cycle times
- Interchangeability (ICY)
- Improved performance characteristics
- Ease of new product introduction
- Highly integrated products
Aircraft deployed on
- Large commercial – Airbus A330, A340, A380 and A350 XWB
- Military transport – Airbus A400M