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• Activity in India grows with new Bangalore office
GKN Aerospace’s stand at Aero India, 2015, Hall A/B, stand SN/12 will display the latest developments in two of the company’s market-leading product lines:
fuel systems and emergency flotation systems. On display will be a flexible fuel cell for military rotorcraft alongside a scaled model of the B212 helicopter fitted with a GKN Aerospace emergency flotation system.
Manufacturing fuel systems at facilities in the US and UK, GKN Aerospace supplies full turnkey packages from fuel storage to engine feed, as well as flexible fuel bladders, crashworthy and self-sealing systems, rotationally moulded tanks and range extender tanks. Products incorporate the company’s patented market-leading explosive suppressant and anti-slosh technology and recent process and materials developments mean even stronger, lighter fuel systems can exploit much more of the available space on the platform – maximising fuel load and airframe endurance and minimising weight.
For the military market, GKN Aerospace’s fuel system technology offers the most rapid self-sealing on the market, providing 7.62mm to 20mm round protection to all types of fuel containment systems. This ballistically tolerant technology is typically integrated at the design phase of a vehicle but can also be retro-fitted or externally fitted to ensure fuel supply is maintained throughout front line operations – and has been proved effective in service.
In emergency flotation systems, GKN Aerospace is an authority on the specification, design, manufacture and qualification of complete systems, designed to FAR / JAR 27 and 29. The company continues to develop and apply new materials and fabrication techniques, creating even lighter weight equipment with extended performance and reliability, offering improved safety for crew and passengers.
The team at GKN Aerospace provides full maintenance support for proprietary and customer products, as well as to the broader market. Services include inspection, leak repair and detection and damage repair including repair of nitrile rubber and modern polyurethane materials, self-sealing and crashworthy fuel cells.
Neil McManus, CEO, GKN Aerospace, Europe and Special Products comments: “We have over 35 years’ experience supporting Indian industry and government and have a strong relationship with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with whom we have a successful transfer of technology arrangement covering the fuel systems technology on display at Aero India. A year ago, recognising the incredible engineering talent in India, the company established a new engineering team in Bangalore which now contributes engineering expertise to GKN Aerospace programmes across the world. Today, whether as a partner, supplier or customer we are keen to extend our involvement with India.”
