GKN gets A380 contract

Airbus has awarded GKN Aerospace Services a contract for the design and manufacture of the wing trailing edge panels on the A380 superjumbo, a contract worth an estimated $600 million to GKN over the assumed 600 aircraft life of the programme.

GKN Aerospace is already involved in the design if the midbox structure for the A3809 wing and the manufacture of the composite flap track beams that are also structural wing components. This latest award brings the total estimated value of GKN A380 work to more than $800 million.

The A380 contract is the first application of a composite manufacturing technology developed by GKN in partnership with Airbus. The A380 will be the first aerospace platform to use GKN/s Resin Film Infusion technology rather than conventional 'pre-preg' composites. The technique has both weight and cost savings over current composite processes.

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