GKN Aerospace Norway
CHRISTMAS GREETING 2022
Christmas is almost here. A new year is just around the corner. Thousands of people are getting ready for traveling this December. Many of them travel by plane. And many of them are traveling to the same destination; Home for Christmas.
Traveling quickly and safely brings communities, families, and friends closer together. At GKN Aerospace Norway (GAN), we work with a passion and determination to make aircraft fly further, faster and greener.
Before we enter the year 2023, let’s look back at the past year.
As you can see, this year the Christmas greeting will arrive in your inbox – not in the letterbox. This digital Christmas greeting allows you to look back on the year that has passed in GKN Aerospace Norway.
Scroll through, preferably on PC for the best user experience. Enjoy!
Market, development
and investment
The future is exciting – isn’t it? The aircraft industry is constantly developing, and so are we at GAN. We set ourselves ambitious goals. If we are to develop, we must dare to think outside the box.
To help reach our goals, we make necessary investments. For the Engines divisions, around $100M is invested annually. For our department in Kongsberg, the same figure is approx. 10% of this. Dette går til investeringer som nye maskiner, fiksturer og ulike verktøy og solcellepaneler i 2023. This goes to investments such as new machines, fixtures and various tools and solar panels in 2023.
The investments we have made this year have been necessary to increase production volume, increase efficiency, increase profitability and secure our reputation as carriers of the future.
In 2023, we will also make important investments; such as friction welding, super polishing, multitask mill/turn machines and washing machine for our cases, a new ventilation system, and a new logistics layout.
These investments are made for increased safety, improved workdays, improved product quality, new capability, increased competitiveness, increased capacity, and higher turnover.
We asked 5 employees different questions…
John Vidar Gulbrandsen
What do you think is exciting about
being part of GAN's development - now and in the future?
“The most exciting thing is whether we succeed in our investments in leap and F 135, and not least how large a volume this gives us in the future.”
How do you see the development
of aviation in 30 years?
“Aviation will probably , remain at a high level in the future as well, but they will not escape stricter climate requirements and the engine manufacturers will have to develop more climate-friendly engines, which can be good for us.”
Finance
At GAN, we set ourselves big goals. But none of them are too big! The way it looks, most of the financial goals we have set for ourselves in 2022 will be achieved – and some by a good margin. That is joyous taking with us into a new year!
GAN has been and is in a very exciting period. The biggest challenges in 2022 have been managing the balance between ramping up and ramping down different products.
As a company in change, our goals of maintaining quality and content are clear. It is strategically important that the company continues to change in 2023. Our finance department has a major role in supporting the company as best as possible.
In 2023, we aim to reduce risk. We will create arenas for discussion and assignment of tasks, as well as identify the need for developmental courses and methods that will accelerate our processes.
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Trond Bolme
What goals has GAN set for the entire company in 2023?
We will be the most reliable and sustainable partner in the world, or ‘in the sky’.”
How will GAN achieve these goals?
“We will have to continue to deliver quality to our customers, within the objectives for environment and safety.”
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Trond Bolme
What goals has GAN set for the entire company in 2023?
We will be the most reliable and sustainable partner in the world, or ‘in the sky’.”
How will GAN achieve these goals?
“We will have to continue to deliver quality to our customers, within the objectives for environment and safety.”
Our Employees
It is not possible to talk about all our achievements and further development without highlighting our talented employees. They are the most important resource. As we invest in other things, we also invest in our employees.
Therefore, we facilitate professional development and career opportunities, with a strong focus on seeing the individual’s needs and wishes. Together, this contributes to a sense of unity, which safeguards diversity and openness in the workplace.
Every day we work on improvement in one form or another. It is extra fun when the work of our employees is noticed! After a 2-day lean course, 270 employees at GAN are now certified. This has created a commitment where all employees must have carried out at least one improvement activity every month.
No activity is too small! Our employees have contributed to 3,000 such activities during 2022. In April and May, the work was noticed globally, and we at GAN became the winner of the Global Kaizen competition these months!
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Bjørn Friborg
How long have you worked at GAN?
Where did you start and where are you now?
” I started in 1996 at Norwegian Jet Engine, so I have worked here for 26 years. I started at the Vane department, now I’m at T-case.”
Why do you think GAN is a good place to work?
“ GAN is a workplace with excellent colleagues where there is room for humor and being yourself.”
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Bjørn Friborg
How long have you worked at GAN?
Where did you start and where are you now?
” I started in 1996 at Norwegian Jet Engine, so I have worked here for 26 years. I started at the Vane department, now I’m at T-case.”
Why do you think GAN is a good place to work?
“ GAN is a workplace with excellent colleagues where there is room for humor and being yourself.”
A Look Back
- 40 Years of Welding
Turbine Exhaust Case and Turbine Rear Frame are two products we have had at Kongsberg for a long time. The history of TEC production at Kongsberg started in 1976 as a result of Norway buying F16 fighters. After 1976 and until today, there have been several large contracts for TEC and TRF for civil aircraft. Production area T3 has since 2013 been the largest in GAN.
Now, the production of TEC and TRF is ending. We will streamline the Nordic production sites, each with its own Center of Excellence (COE). It is about developing, and not least establishing, cutting-edge expertise in this area to secure our future at GAN.
Production area T3 with TEC/ TRF has been important for GAN. Over the years, this has contributed to many jobs, unique professional expertise and large incomes. Before Covid, T3 was at its largest and had a total crew of over 150 people.
In connection with the end of this chapter here at GAN, investments have been made in the retraining of employees. Welders who have been retrained enable us to utilize the expertise we already have within the company but in new areas.
T3 has a history characterized by great challenges, a high work ethic, and excellent cooperation. We have celebrated many milestones together and had a lot of fun! We are proud of the history.
Sustainability
GAN is on a growth journey. Towards new talent, but also towards sustainability. Paperless is a good step to take We want to be exemplary in sustainability. Any initiative that helps us reduce our CO2 footprint is important.
Our mission is to be the most reliable and sustainable partner in the air! At GKN, we have our own team, which we call our sustainable heroes – Sustainability Champions; Urszula Jaciszyn, Roger Mo and Eilev Aakre.
The idea behind this is to engage people to exchange good ideas collaborate on sustainability Since 2004, we have separated over 95% of our waste! And every day we work to find more sustainable alternatives.
These days, for examplewe are workingto replace our electricity with even more sustainable power sources such as solar energy. Additiv Manufacturing, called 3D-printing, is also a hugely exciting field we are working towards. Think – in the future aircraft parts can be produced in a printer!
The best of all – GAN becoming more sustainable does not come at the expense of anything. As Winnie The Pooh would have said: “Yes, both!”. We are moving towards more sustainability, we are improving our ability to recruit, we are increasing our competitiveness, and increasing our turnover.
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Henry Kristiansen
Why do you think it is important that GKN cares about the environment?
“It is important that we as a company contribute to a better environment. If everyone contributes a little by caring about the environment and doing the right things with everything from sorting garbage to more complex ways of treating waste, it will make a bigger difference in the ecosystem, in my opinion.”
What do you do in your everyday life to be more sustainable?
“I buy food which is about to expire, half off. I don’t buy useless clothes that never get worn. I reduce power consumption. Walk to work instead of taking the car. Sorts garbage and tries to reuse things that should be thrown away for other purposes. “
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Henry Kristiansen
Why do you think it is important that GKN cares about the environment?
“It is important that we as a company contribute to a better environment. If everyone contributes a little by caring about the environment and doing the right things with everything from sorting garbage to more complex ways of treating waste, it will make a bigger difference in the ecosystem, in my opinion.”
What do you do in your everyday life to be more sustainable?
“I buy food which is about to expire, half off. I don’t buy useless clothes that never get worn. I reduce power consumption. Walk to work instead of taking the car. Sorts garbage and tries to reuse things that should be thrown away for other purposes. “
World
Events
2022 has, like the previous 2 years, been a different year. For GAN, the pandemic had major consequences.
All travel stopped immediately; Planes had to stay put. The flight suppliers got cancellations. The market for aircraft engine components saw an extreme reduction, both in relation to new engines and spare parts. Layoffs were implemented in March 2020. Unfortunately, there was also a need for downsizing in the form of redundancies.
As a production company, not many of our employees can carry out their tasks from home. Many must be physically at work. For this reason, a lot of work went into creating a safe and infection-free working day.
At the same time, we learned a lot; Many tasks can be solved externally. . It is possible to have efficient workdays from home, and meetings at Teams work. This has been a positive learning experience which now gives the employees an opportunity for a more flexible workday.
The War
in Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine has also made an impact
on all of us at GAN, with several employees directly linked to it.
Konstantin has lived in Norway for 8 years and currently works as a quality engineer at GAN. He himself is originally from Ukraine. With family and countrymen in need, it was important for him to be able to contribute. He has done significant and important work.
– I have helped with advertisements and updates on Facebook, and collected and managed information about the needs. I organized a fundraiser for HOPE Worldwide which helps the people in Ukraine and the people who want to flee Ukraine in these difficult times.
– I have also flown to the border between Romania and Moldova to drive my brother’s wife and daughter to Norway. I have worked in my spare time to help get both volunteer help and host families and raise financial funds for rehabilitation centers.
As a global organization, we have several colleagues, customers, and suppliers with links to Ukraine, and would like to show our support for the humanitarian aid efforts in the area.
In March, we published an internal news story with a call to support humanitarian aid for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. GAN would match all donations from the employees. Together, our employees contributed over NOK 15,000, and the amount was donated to the Red Cross’s work with emergency aid in Ukraine. The money went directly to healthcare, food, water, and warm clothes.
GKN central has contributed £50,000 (almost NOK 600,000) to the British Red Cross.
Sponsorships
In 2022
At GKN Aerospace Norway, we want to make a difference for our community – big or small. That is why we support various purposes, teams, and associations. We believe this is important to show social responsibility. Among our employees, this promotes commitment, pride, and loyalty.
This year we have provided sponsorship funds for the following purposes, teams and associations:
Kirkens Bymisjon (The Church City Mission)
Kongsberg Golfbane (Golf Cource)
Starfighterens venner (The Starfighter’s Friends)
Glogerfestspillene
Kongsberg Miners
DNV Fuel Fighters (Student Project)
Kongsberglekene (The Kongsberg Games)
Acta Musicae
Elvelangs i Kongsberg (Along the River)
BK Svømming (BK Swimming)
ECT Eagles Groundbreakers
Julegater i Kongsberg (Christmas Streets in Kongsberg)
Kirkens Bymisjon (The Church City Mission)
The Church City Mission’s Café Tråkka is an opportunity for people who, due to addiction, mental illness, and/or a previous prison sentence, have been outside the work-life.
Café Tråkka is an arena in safe surroundings for people to get back into working life, participate in society and be able to support themselves.
Kongsberglekene (The Kongsberg Games)
Kongsberglekene is an annual event that creates sporting joy and community for developmentally disabled people from the age of 12.
Acta Musicae
Acta Musicae is Kongsberg’s women’s choir – which turns 25 this year. This September, Acta Musicae participated in the Kalamata International Choir Competition in Greece. This was their first trip abroad! Our contribution helped sponsor this trip.
One of our employees sings in this choir and initiated the request for a sponsorship agreement.
Elvelangs i Kongsberg (Along the River)
The sponsorship money from GKN contributes to Elvelangs in Kongsberg being able to light the trail along Lågen with 1,500 torches. This event has grown with the involvement of the city’s people and contributes to a cultural boos t.. Here the city’s associations and teams are showcased,encourage collaboration and create a unity we can be proud of! One of the company’s employees is the prime mover for this event and of course encourages everyone in GAN to participate!
Social
Events
Friday the 13th doesn’t mean bad luck to us – quite the opposite! Due to the covid restrictions at the beginning of 2022, the traditional New Year’s party in was not held until Friday 13th of May for all our employees. It was a great success with a 3-course dinner and entertainment by Øyvind Loven, followed by an exclusive concert with TORA at Energimølla. Truly a success!
The New Year’s party in 2023 is scheduled to go as normal, but again on Friday the 13th. On this day, for the first time in history, we will gather all employees for this year’s strategy meeting during the day, followed by the New Year’s party in the evening. We hope that the upcoming New Year’s party will be as great a success as its predecessor.
It is important for us to show some pride in our wonderful employees! For HR and the managing director to dress up in Easter costumes for the distribution of Easter eggs, or to hand out fluffy cats with glitter in their hair, for example, is not entirely unusual here at GAN.
Otherwise, we have several social highlights during the year, which we are also looking forward to in 2023; Regular team gatherings off-site, departmental Christmas parties and summer end parties, as well as annual shop steward meetings with the management and anniversary dinner presenting watch for 25 years of employment.
Thanks for now,
2022!
Despite another different year, 2022 has been a good one. This year we have demonstrated world-class performance, with recognition from the company management. At Kongsberg, we have had the most positive ‘Operational Excellence’ development in the whole of GKN worldwide.
During a historic transfer of products between Sweden and Norway, we have succeeded in keeping our customers satisfied. We have also shown that we can work smarter and be competitive at the same time.
Now we look ahead. 2023 is next. A year filled with exciting challenges with the launch of many new products!
We asked 5 employees different questions…
Liv Grethe Saglien
What do you think the future of GAN and GKN looks like?
“The future looks better than a couple of years ago, but I hope we get a few more contracts and more to do eventually.”
If you have to guess - what do you think airplanes will look like in the future?
“ I think it’s hard to predict anything about the larger aircraft. I think there will be many more electric small planes eventually, and a world with a lot more drone activity .”
Merry Christmas!
The year 2022 is almost over. Sebastién Aknouche, CEO at
GKN Aerospace Norway wishes you a very Merry Christmas:
– My first day at GAN was exactly one year ago. Before I had the chance to meet you, many of us were asked to work from home due to a COVID wave. A strange beginning, you might say. This year, I am so glad that we all have better conditions to celebrate Christmas with our families!
– I am very proud of what we have achieved together in 2022 and hope you share the same feeling. We have performed well and are growing rapidly, we have a bright future ahead of us, and everyone’s contribution ensures this.
I wish you a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year! Recharge your batteries with your loved ones and come back ready for another exciting year at GKN Aerospace Norway!