GKN Completes Purchase of Boeing's Fabrication Operations
GKN Aerospace Services -- St. Louis Opens for Business
The structural fabrication operations formerly owned by Boeing in St. Louis today opened for business as GKN Aerospace Services -- St. Louis.
This follows GKN's announcement on Oct. 19 that it would acquire the fabrication center and become a core strategic partner to Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems. GKN has also made St. Louis the base for the corporate headquarters of the GKN Aerospace Services operations in the United States.
Some 1,200 Boeing employees have transferred to GKN as part of the sale. They will remain in place in St. Louis and will continue to produce parts and subassemblies for Boeing's military jets.
"The outstanding skills and commitment of the St. Louis Fabrication Operations team will strengthen our support to our customers and play an important role in accelerating GKN's development as a global first-tier supplier," said James J. Fitzsimmons, president and chief executive officer of GKN Aerospace Services -- St. Louis.
"GKN will be a terrific partner to Boeing, a strong leader in our community and a good employer," said Jerry Daniels, president of Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems. "They've done everything we've asked of potential buyers. Most important of all, they are committed to keeping these operations in St. Louis, supporting their employees, adding business from other customers and investing in new technology."
With this transfer of ownership, St. Louis Fabrication Operations becomes one of seven global centers of excellence within GKN Aerospace Services. Immediate plans for the new operation include the transfer to St. Louis of additional manufacturing work and new technology from other GKN Aerospace establishments. GKN also intends to pursue new initiatives to secure work on other international civil and military aerospace programs.
GKN Aerospace Services is the aerospace operation of GKN plc. It is a global independent first-tier supplier of structures, components, assemblies and engineering services to aircraft and aero engine manufacturers. It possesses expertise in all specialist aerospace manufacturing and design processes as well as in supply chain and logistics management. It has seven centers of manufacturing excellence in Europe and the United States, including its newly acquired operations in St. Louis. GKN Aerospace Services employs nearly 2,000 aerospace engineers and has access to an additional 500 systems and software engineers through Aerosystems International, a joint venture of GKN and BAE Systems.
James J. "Jay" Fitzsimmons is president and chief executive officer of GKN Aerospace Services -- St. Louis. A highly experienced aerospace executive, Fitzsimmons joined GKN from TRW Aeronautical Systems, where he was senior vice president of operations for TRW's operations in the United States.
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