GKN Aerospace expands Connecticut operations with new additive production line for Pratt & Whitney GTF engine components

GKN Aerospace expands Connecticut operations with new additive production line for Pratt & Whitney GTF engine components

(IN BRIEF) GKN Aerospace is expanding its Newington, Connecticut facility with a new additive manufacturing production line for the Fan Case Mount Ring (FCMR), a key component of Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines powering Airbus A220 and Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The FCMR programme, the largest flight-critical additive component to achieve FAA certification, will reach full serial production by late 2025. Currently, the hot size ring is additively fabricated in Trollhättan, Sweden, and machined in Newington, but the U.S. expansion will support higher volumes and strengthen supply chains. GKN Aerospace’s proprietary additive process offers more than 70% material savings, faster production cycles, and sustainability benefits. Company executives highlighted the significance of Connecticut’s skilled workforce and aerospace infrastructure in scaling the technology, as well as opportunities to expand additive solutions for new U.S. customers. With over 450 employees in Connecticut and recent global investments in additive fabrication, GKN Aerospace continues to strengthen its leadership in advanced manufacturing for civil and military aviation.

(PRESS RELEASE) BIRMINGHAM, 5-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — GKN Aerospace has announced a major expansion of its Newington, Connecticut site with the introduction of a new production line dedicated to the additive fabrication of the Fan Case Mount Ring (FCMR), a critical structural component of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine used on Airbus A220 and Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The move strengthens the company’s U.S. manufacturing base, supports increased demand for GTF engines, and will create new skilled jobs in the region.

The FCMR programme represents a landmark in aerospace innovation, as the largest flight-critical additive component to secure FAA certification, and is on track to achieve full serial production by the fourth quarter of 2025. Production of the component is already underway, with the additively fabricated “hot size ring” delivered from GKN Aerospace’s Trollhättan facility in Sweden, before final machining in Newington. The expansion will allow the Connecticut site to support ramp-up in volumes while meeting growing market needs.

GKN Aerospace’s proprietary additive manufacturing process provides significant benefits, including over 70% material savings, shorter lead times, and enhanced supply chain resilience by diversifying production methods. The technology is not only transformative from a technical standpoint but also delivers sustainability and predictability advantages to customers worldwide.

“This expansion in Connecticut is an important milestone for both GKN Aerospace and our Fan Case Mount Ring programme,” said Joakim Andersson, President Engines, GKN Aerospace. “With strong local support, a highly skilled workforce, and a well-established aerospace ecosystem, we are able to bring our latest additive fabrication technology into large-scale production, creating jobs while strengthening our long-standing collaboration with Pratt & Whitney.”

Sébastien Aknouche, SVP Material Solutions, GKN Aerospace, added: “Today we are producing around 30 FCMR units per month at our Trollhättan site. By expanding this advanced technology into the U.S., we will be able to consolidate production volumes in one location and enhance our ability to serve Pratt & Whitney and additional U.S. customers. This expansion also creates opportunities to broaden our additive manufacturing capabilities beyond the FCMR programme.”

With two facilities in Connecticut—Newington and Cromwell—employing over 450 people across the state, GKN Aerospace is reinforcing its commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing. This latest investment follows the company’s $50 million expansion in 2024 aimed at scaling additive fabrication technologies for civil and military engine platforms worldwide.

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SOURCE: GKN Aerospace