US facility begins $16 million expansion to meet rising engine component demand

GKN Aerospace has started a $16 million expansion of its North Charlestown, New Hampshire, facility as rising demand drives the company to increase its U.S. production capacity for critical aero-engine components. The expansion will add approximately 57,000 square feet, which will bring the facility’s total footprint to nearly 97,000 square feet, according to a press release from GKN Aerospace. GKN said the larger facility will support future business growth and workforce expansion while allowing the company to carry out a broader range of manufacturing activities at the site. “Today marks an important milestone for our North Charlestown site and for GKN Aerospace’s U.S. operations,” said Joakim Andersson, president of Engines at GKN Aerospace. “This investment will help us grow our capacity in the U.S. as demand from our engine customers continues to rise.” Andersson added that the expansion represents “an important step as we strengthen our ability to support customers and grow our business for the long term.” GKN plans to introduce additional manufacturing capabilities at the expanded facility, including turning operations, surface finishing and non-destructive testing (NDT). The company said bringing more manufacturing processes on site will help improve efficiency and reduce lead times. The project builds on the $16 million investment GKN announced earlier this year. Bigger, stronger The 57,000-square-foot addition will roughly triple the size of the North Charlestown operation, according to an earlier report from NH Business Review. The expansion will include a dedicated production cell for high-performance compressor blades and vanes to meet growing demand for complex engine parts and support current and future commercial and defense engine programs. The project will also strengthen the North Charleston facility’s operational ties with GKN Aerospace’s Muncie, Indiana, operation, as per NH Business Review. The two sites combine advanced forging capabilities with precision machining to provide an integrated manufacturing solution for critical engine components. The investment will add a production cell dedicated to compressor blades and vanes and create new skilled jobs, M4S News also reported. “We are investing in engine component manufacturing capabilities where our customers need us most,” Alexander Andersson, senior vice president of Product Solutions, told M4S News. “This expansion in the U.S. strengthens our capacity in a critical area of the supply chain and reinforces our position as a trusted partner on key engine programs.” GKN said the additional space will allow it to expand its workforce alongside its manufacturing capacity. “This expansion gives us the space to grow our team, increase production capacity and broaden our capabilities,” said Tomas Lindsta, senior vice president of OE Product Solutions at GKN Aerospace. “By bringing more manufacturing processes in-house, we can further develop our employees’ skills, gain greater flexibility and respond more effectively to our customers’ evolving needs as our business continues to grow,” Lindsta added. A big moment for aerospace GKN Aerospace operates in 12 countries, employs approximately 16,000 people across more than 30 locations and reports global sales of £3.6 billion ($4.87 billion). The company develops and supplies aerostructures and engine systems for aircraft ranging from helicopters and passenger planes to fighter aircraft. With construction now underway, GKN has moved the North Charleston investment into its next phase as it continues to expand its U.S. capacity for aero-engine component production. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Originally from LA, Maria Mocerino has been published in Business Insider, The Irish Examiner, The Rogue Mag, Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and now Interesting Engineering.