GKN Aerospace Expands Additive Manufacturing with L-DED in Norway

This article is based on an official press release from GKN Aerospace.

GKN Aerospace has announced a significant expansion of its additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities in Norway, signing a strategic agreement to industrialize “Laser Directed Energy Deposition” (L-DED) technology at its engines facility in Kongsberg. The initiative, supported by a co-investment of NOK 12 million (approximately £1 million or $1.1 million), involves a partnership with Norwegian Catapult Manufacturing Technology and SIVA (The Industrial Growth Company).

According to the company’s announcement, this investment aims to establish a national platform for sustainable manufacturing, making advanced infrastructure available to the broader Norwegian industry while integrating GKN’s Norwegian operations into its global “Material Solutions” network.

Industrializing L-DED Technology

The core of this expansion is the deployment of Laser Directed Energy Deposition with wire (L-DED-w). Unlike powder-bed fusion methods often used for smaller components, L-DED-w utilizes a robotic arm to direct a laser beam that melts a metal wire feedstock, building large-scale structures layer by layer.

GKN Aerospace states that the first L-DED-w cell in Kongsberg is scheduled to be operational in 2026. The technology is designed to address sustainability challenges in the aerospace sector by drastically reducing material waste. Traditional manufacturing methods, such as forging and machining, often result in a high “buy-to-fly” ratio, where significant amounts of material are cut away. In contrast, GKN reports that L-DED technology prints near-net shapes, reducing material waste by up to 80%.

“Additive manufacturing is a cornerstone of our vision for the future of aerospace. This partnership with Norwegian Catapult enables us to fully industrialise additive technology and bring sustainable, high-performance solutions closer to our customers.”

, Sébastien Aknouche, Senior Vice President, Material Solutions, GKN Aerospace

Strategic Global Context

This development in Norway is part of a wider decentralization strategy by GKN Aerospace to place additive manufacturing capabilities near existing machining centers. By doing so, the company aims to shorten supply chains, reduce transport costs, and lower the carbon footprint associated with logistics.

The Kongsberg facility joins a growing network of advanced manufacturing sites. The company recently invested in AM capabilities in Trollhättan, Sweden, and commissioned “Cell 3” in Texas, USA, described as the world’s largest known L-DED-w cell, capable of printing titanium parts up to five meters in length.

Collaboration with the Kongsberg Cluster

A key component of this agreement is its collaborative nature. The project is integrated with the Kongsberg Technology Cluster, a hub for high-tech industrial innovation. Through the involvement of the Norwegian Catapult and SIVA, the infrastructure developed at GKN’s facility will serve as a resource for other industrial players in the region.

“Together with GKN Aerospace, we are building a platform for future-oriented manufacturing in Norway… By co-investing in this initiative, we ensure that the unique infrastructure and competence GKN Aerospace now gets in Kongsberg becomes available to the broader Norwegian Industry.”

, Ole B. Hoen, Head of Kongsberg Technology Cluster

AirPro News Analysis

The shift from prototyping to industrialization marks a critical maturity point for additive manufacturing in aerospace. While AM has long been used for complex, low-volume parts, GKN’s move to deploy L-DED-w for large-scale structural components suggests a growing confidence in the technology’s reliability for serial production. Furthermore, the “Catapult” model, where private enterprise co-invests with government-backed entities to share infrastructure, mitigates the high capital risk of adopting these advanced technologies, potentially accelerating the “green shift” across the wider Norwegian supply chain.

Sources:
GKN Aerospace Press Release