GKN Aerospace Rolls-Royce Joint Venture Sees £14.8m Plant Open On The Island

It’s great to hear positive business news which will have a knock-on effect for those living on the Isle of Wight.

We’ve already mentioned that Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk MP, will be meeting small/medium businesses to discuss planning for future growth. Following this meeting tomorrow morning at the Riverside Centre, Mark will be heading to Cowes to officially open a new £14.8m aero engine pre-production plant.

Joint venture between GKN and Rolls-Royce
Composite Technology and Applications Ltd – a joint venture between GKN Aerospace and Rolls-Royce – is part of the Environmental Lightweight Fan (ELF) research programme, which is supported by the UK Government and the European Union to prove high-rate production processes for new all-composite engine fan blades.

The blades are designed to reduce aircraft fuel consumption and emissions while also cutting costly and time-consuming maintenance activity.