GKN Aerospace Trent

Rolls-Royce has awarded a $200m contract to GKN Aerospace to supply components for the Trent 1000 engine.

Under the long-term agreement, GKN Aerospace will supply the outer guide vane (OGV) mount ring and the rear fan case for the Trent engine.

Rolls-Royce is upgrading the existing Trent 1000 engine to equip Boeing 787.

GKN Aerospace is producing the components at its facilities in Newington, Connecticut, El Cajon, California and Mexicali, Mexico, and the initial development units are being shipped.

GKN Aerospace engine systems CEO Mike McCann said: "We have been manufacturing these components for the Trent 1000 since 2005 and have been working with Rolls-Royce from the outset to develop this near net fabrication scheme.

"This agreement allows us to optimise a number of processes that will improve the performance of the Trent 1000 engine and simultaneously reduce the environmental impact of manufacture."

"This agreement allows us to optimise a number of processes that will improve the performance of the Trent 1000 engine and simultaneously reduce the environmental impact of manufacture."

Once starting full production, the company expects to supply around 150 engine sets a year.

Various advanced fabrication and assembly techniques have been optimised, to minimise the buy to fly ratio for each component, reduce material wastage and limit exposure to material price fluctuations, GKN said.

Chem milling of the rear fan case has decreased the weight of the component by more than 40lb, GKN added.

Rolls-Royce contract follows a deal signed by GKN with Boeing last week, for final assembly and paint of Advanced Technology Winglets for the new 737 MAX.

Image: GKN Aerospace will supply the outer guide vane mount ring and the rear fan case for the Trent engine. Photo: courtesy of GKN Aerospace.