The Origins of GKN

• Started as S E Saunders boatyard on the River Thames in 1830
• Moved to Cowes Isle of Wight in 1901
• Company formed an "Aircraft" department in 1909
• Introduced "Consuta" to the aircraft industry. Consuta was a development of the Company and forerunner of plywood
• Became Saunders-Roe after A V Roe took a financial interest in Company in 1928
• Designed and built flying boats through to 1953

Maple Leaf IV - 1912.	Bat Boat - 1913.

SR-53 - 1957	Hovercraft - 1959 to 1985

1986 - Refocused towards Aerostructures

• Now named Westland Aerospace, the company was focused towards aerostructures to broaden the base of the Westland Group
• Organic growth achieved through composite structures and turbo-prop nacelles on a range of programmes
• In 1994 the Westland Group was acquired by GKN
• One year later, GKN Aerospace Services was given the mandate to grow by acquisition. This was focused towards companies which strengthened the technology base.

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III	Lockheed Martin C-130J

1997 - Acquired BP Chemicals, Avonmouth

• Improved access to Airbus UK
• Nacelle and RTM technology

1997 - Acquired Aerospace Composite Technologies, Luton

• Nacelle de-icing technology
• Composite transparencies
• High aftermarket

1997 - Acquired Adis, Munich

• Improved access to Airbus
• Strong composite capability

1998 - Acquired Dow UT, Connecticut and Alabama

• RTM and airframe components
• North American customer base

1999 - Acquired Chem-tronics, San Diego

• Strong metallic technology
• Engine components
• High aftermarket niche

2001 - Acquired St Louis

• Formerly the fabrication operation of Boeing Military Aircraft
• First "outsourcing" acquisition
• Created strong partnership with Boeing
• Strong composite and metallic capabilities
• Step change in the shape of GKN Aerospace Services

GKN St Louis

2002 - Acquired Kent EBC, WA

• Strong in Electron Beam welding
• Largest electron beam chamber in USA
• Complements existing metal technologies

2002 - Acquired ASTECH

• Welded honeycomb structures
• Increased engine component capability
• High aftermarket potential

2003 - Acquired Pilkington Aerospace

• Civil and Military Transparency capability
• Four locations across the world
• Integrated with existing business to create:
  • The world's No. 1 supplier of transparencies to the military aircraft market
  • The world's No. 2 supplier to the civil aircraft market
• Also supplies bullet resistant glass products
  

2006 - Acquired Stellex

• Extended capabilities in high precision machining

2007 - Acquired Teleflex Aerospace Manufacturing Group

• Extends engine product portfolio
• Advanced technologies: electro-chemical milling