Technology Innovation

In 2008, GKN partnered a European car manufacturer to develop its first application of an electric rear axle for hybrid vehicle use. The technology offers improved fuel efficiency and the option of an ‘all electric’ drive mode with zero emissions.

 

 

In 2008, GKN developed a new generation of pre-alloyed steel powder for use in the manufacture of sintered components. The powder has a lower alloy content than traditional alloyed powder yet offers improved compressibility and performance allowing manufacture of higher strength, more complex components.

 

Our business pioneers the use of new materials and processes to progress composites and metallics manufacture, improving aircraft performance, reducing weight, lowering carbon emissions and noise. GKN-developed process technologies are being used by the Company to manufacture the first all-composite primary, safety-critical structure ever to be used on a large airliner - a19m wing spar for the A400M military airlifter. And our developments in exotic metal manufacture are enabling the production of highly complex, durable and extremely rugged structures in metals such as titanium.

 

In 2009, nearly every bushel of North American corn and grain harvested by new equipment will be done using a drive system which includes GKN technology and products. The biggest land driven vehicel, the CAT 797B with 625 tons and 3550HP is driven by a GKN driveshaft and cooled by a GKN fan clutch. All worldwide produced self propelled forage harvesters and all self propelled cotton pickers use GKN drive line systems.