GKN Aerospace (Innovation Zone) has opened a new engineering and technology centre at the company's Filton, UK site to expand its wing design and manufacturing capability.

More than 100 engineers are expected to be based at the site, providing an integrated design and manufacturing capability.

GKN says that with more than 50 permanent staff already in place and a recruitment programme under way, the Filton centre will integrate with the company's other established engineering centres in the UK on the Isle of Wight, and in the USA at St Louis, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

The four engineering centres will support over 25 GKN Aerospace manufacturing sites worldwide. They will carry out product design and analysis and develop new manufacturing technologies and techniques, with each site leading on a defined area of expertise.

Technical director Rich Oldfield says: "Bristol is now established as the heart of our global wing structures manufacturing activity. With the National Composites Centre close by and strong links into local academic research programmes, this is the ideal base for developing our engineering capability."

Source: Flight Daily News