GKN Aerospace has officially opened an expansion to its facility in Mexico, Chihuahua, representing a significant advancement in the company's aerospace manufacturing capabilities for the North American market.

The upgraded site will now focus on both the assembly of composite aerostructures as well as manufacturing electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS). The enhanced production capacities will strengthen partnerships with customers in the region, including HondaJet and Gulfstream, and will position the site for future growth.

John Pritchard, President Civil Airframe of GKN Aerospace said: "The expansion of our Chihuahua facility is an important milestone for us. It will supplement our already established aerostructures footprint in the region, embedding our industry-leading EWIS capabilities into North America for the first time. Combined, lightweight structures and advanced EWIS systems are critical for both our customers’ platforms today, as well as to enable the future of sustainable flight. Having this multi-technology site in Chihuahua is an important step forward in enabling this.”

Maria Eugenia Campos, Governor of the State of Chihuahua, said: “We take immense pride in having GKN Aerospace as a cornerstone of Chihuahua's aerospace industry. The company’s expansion in Chihuahua is a testament to the trust and confidence placed in our state. My administration is fully committed to supporting GKN Aerospace's ongoing and future projects, providing the resources and infrastructure necessary for success and growth.”

By diversifying the site, with the addition of electrical wiring systems capability alongside its existing aerostructures capabilities, Chihuahua will be repositioned as a multi-technology aerospace manufacturing centre with the creation of more than 200 new jobs.

GKN Aerospace currently operates three facilities in Mexico, catering to both civil aircraft and the business aerospace markets in the United States and Europe. The Chihuahua facility specializes in providing the assembly of advanced composite and metal structures, specialized processes, and engineering services.