GKN Aerospace Engine Fan Blade Repair Operation Grows to 50,000 Blades per Year. . . Appoints new General Manager, Expands service


GKN Aerospace has a strategic target to treble its aftermarket operation over the medium term and has identified its engine fan blade repair and overhaul business as a key element in this growth.

This market is growing due to the maturation of new engine types and the Company is achieving record levels of business - with over 50,000 mainly medium/large thrust engine fan blades for over 150 customers processed through the El Cajon, California based facility during 2007. This volume represents a significant and major share of the global fan blade repair market.

As part of the growth strategy, a new General Manager, Steve Pearl, was appointed in May this year.

Pearl states "We form a core element in the GKN Aerospace strategic plan for aftermarket activity. We are achieving growth and gaining world class status across our business. With this growth we have also achieved reliable delivery performance and our goal is to maintain this as a long term part of our service to all of our customers"

The Company is now in the process of extending its range of repairs for fan blades and other fan components to broaden the engine component R&O offering to customers. To support the growth in this market the Company is also commencing a program of investment that covers recruitment of new personnel, extending training to the existing team, and new capital equipment for automated machining, surface finishing and coating to speed the repair process.