TEC/TRF – A Noble Vintage of 40 Years Comes to an End

The year is 1976. Harpo tops the charts with the song “Movie Star,” Rocky Balboa becomes a familiar face on the big screen, and Jahn Teigen appears in a skeleton costume at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Kongsberg Weapons Factory secures the largest industrial contract in Norwegian history with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft this year. Norway’s air defense has purchased Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and looks to Kongsberg for parts supply, specifically the Turbine Exhaust Case (TEC).

Fun at work: A short break in the welding workshop.

What is TEC, and why has it been so important to GKN Aerospace Norway and Kongsberg?

To give you an insight – and a flashback – we have spoken to Jarle Hulsund, Value Stream Manager/Group Leader at GKN Aerospace Norway.

Part of the technology town of Kongsberg

To meet the requirement for the new signing with Pratt & Whitney, what you now know as GKN Aerospace Norway (GAN) was separated into a separate department from Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk.

Here – in Kongsberg – Norwegian industrial and technological milestones were reached. The production of TECs was significant and helped establish Norway as a leading player in the production of high-tech products and components for military aircraft.

What are the Turbine Exhaust Case and Turbine Rear Frame?

The Turbine Exhaust Case is the rear component of an aircraft engine. The task of the part is to direct the airflow out of the aircraft engine and provide thrust to the plane.

What sets TEC apart from the other products that GAN produces is that they are large welded structures that require special production processes such as welding, heat treatment, and X-rays.

TRF stands for Turbine Rear Frame and is the same type of component as TEC, but the components are delivered to two different customers. TRF came into the picture first in 2004; until then, it was only TEC.

TEC and TRF have been produced under a production area we call T3.

What are the Turbine Exhaust Case and Turbine Rear Frame?

The Turbine Exhaust Case is the rear component of an aircraft engine. The task of the part is to direct the airflow out of the aircraft engine and provide thrust to the plane.

What sets TEC apart from the other products that GAN produces is that they are large welded structures that require special production processes such as welding, heat treatment, and X-rays.

TEC and TRF have been produced under a production area we call T3.

An important production area in GAN

The production of TEC/TRF has contributed to many jobs, unique expertise, and significant revenue over the years. So significant was the production that since 2017, it has been the largest area in GAN in terms of time spent.

Before Covid, T3 was at its peak and had a total crew of over 130 people. In addition, it provided work for many support functions in the rest of the organization. As the volume has increased over the last 40 years, unique disciplines have been built up – with workshop and method competence.

In 2020, it was decided that the production of TEC/TRF and the adventure will close its final chapter in Kongsberg. The production can now be found at the GKN Aerospace Sweden (GAS) division in Trollhättan.

When one door closes, a new one opens – for opportunities and development

At GAN, we set ourselves big goals. Within our fields of expertise, we aim to be at the forefront. We will be the world’s most reliable and sustainable partner, or “in the sky.”

GKN’s Nordic production sites will streamline and optimize value streams with their respective Centers of Excellence (CoE). This means that the production sites will develop and, not least, establish expertise in their own areas.

Trollhättan will now be a COE for large welded structures, and the production of TEC and TRF in Kongsberg will therefore be discontinued. Our department in Kongsberg will be a COE for turbine cases and shafts.

What are cases and shafts? Read more about what we do at GKN here.

As with any concluding chapter, we close the book and send it on to Trollhättan. But the story is not over yet – as we have started on the sequel.

Since the decision was made in 2020, we have actively worked with our employees on reorganizations and retraining. This includes welders and other functions that worked in the production area of T3. Some welders have now become inspectors after close training cooperation with K-Tech. Others have strengthened their skills through cross-training, while others have been moved into other similar positions and functions within the company. This is to meet the needs for the road ahead.

With this, we have utilized the competence that already exists in the company, but in new areas. This allows us to retain as many as possible. At the same time, we remain competitive on the products we will focus on in the future – and develop ourselves to reach new heights.

After all, that’s where we belong – in the heights.

A 40-year vintage of welding

On Monday, March 20th, the last Turbine Rear Frame (TRF), of the GENX 1B type, was sent to our customer. An assignment that started in 2004 and is now marked as completed. Since 2004, GAN has produced and delivered over 1800 TRFs of this type. The program has provided us with many production hours and jobs.

Production area T3 has a history that is characterized by major challenges, high work morale, and good cooperation. We have celebrated many milestones and had a lot of fun together. We have a history to be proud of, concludes Jarle Hulsund.

Milepæl: første GEnx TRF i 2005

Milepæl: GE90 TRF i 2007

Milepæl: Første PW1000 TEC i 2009