With UK automotive manufacturing continuing to expand, GKN, the global engineer, has announced significant investment of more than £12m in its Birmingham and Telford facilities to support its role as a tier-one supplier to the key automotive brands.
Nigel Stein, Chief Executive GKN plc, said: “The UK is proving itself to be a strong automotive performer with a high proportion of exports. The success of our customers and their demand for GKN technology has meant we are now investing to increase capacity. This investment will help ensure the UK automotive sector continues to grow.
“As a longstanding British company that operates in more than 35 countries, GKN has strong relationships with most of the world’s car manufacturers. What we have seen in the UK has been a strong vote of confidence by this sector, supported by the Government. We are backing their confidence with our investment which will in turn advance the overall UK engineering supply chain.”
In Erdington, Birmingham, GKN Driveline employs 650 people and supports key UK-based automotive marques: Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Bentley and Lotus. In addition the facility supplies Renault, Fiat, Volvo and Dacia and also exports to Japan, South Africa, USA, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Romania and Turkey. In addition to manufacturing, Birmingham is one of GKN Driveline’s engineering design and test facilities that, in cooperation with other global engineering centres, provide the latest product technology to our UK customers.
Nearby in Telford, Shropshire, GKN Land Systems which employs 900 people, is also investing in new manufacturing equipment for the production of structural components for the new Range Rover Sport. GKN is also enhancing its support of agriculture equipment and construction plant manufacturers, for example the JCB Fastrac tractor.
Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green said: “I warmly congratulate GKN plc on its expansion plans and the growth of its international exports. GKN’s investment reflects the competitiveness of the UK’s automotive and aerospace sectors, especially the world-class skills and productivity they demonstrate.
"With the world's spotlight on the UK this summer, we are working hard through the British Business Embassy programme to help companies capitalise on the unique opportunity we have in 2012 to secure new trade and investment."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
ABOUT GKN
GKN Driveline is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline systems and solutions. The Birmingham facility manufactures propshafts and sideshafts which drive the wheels of most of the vehicles manufactured in the UK each year. The success of the Range Rover Evoque and the Nissan Qashqai, amongst others, are all helping power the Birmingham expansion - as is a contract to supply systems to Maserati in Italy. The investment now underway will boost capacity and improve productivity. This is in addition to investment totalling £15m that GKN has made in Birmingham over the past three years to support upgrading and modernising of manufacturing capability and the creation of a UK centre of excellence.
As a global business serving the leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline products and systems – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics. GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems.
GKN Land Systems is a leading supplier of technology differentiated power management solutions and services. It designs, manufactures and supplies products and services for the agricultural, construction, mining and industrial machinery markets. In addition, it provides global aftermarket distribution and through-life support.
GKN plc is a global engineering group – our technologies and products are at the heart of vehicles and aircraft produced by the world’s leading manufacturers.
GKN operates four divisions: GKN Driveline, GKN Powder Metallurgy, GKN Aerospace and GKN Land Systems. Approximately 44,000 people work in GKN companies and joint ventures in more than 35 countries. We harness our considerable technology and manufacturing resources to supply the highest quality systems, structures, components and services.
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