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. That same year, Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk makes the largest industrial contract in Norwegian history with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. The Norwegian Air Force has purchased the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and looks to Kongsberg for the supply of parts, 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 for GKN Aerospace Norway and Kongsberg?
To provide some insight—and a retrospective—we spoke with Jarle Hulsund, Value Stream Manager/Group Leader at GKN Aerospace Norway.
Jarle Hulsund
Part of the Technology City Kongsberg
To meet the requirements of the new contract with Pratt & Whitney, what you know today as GKN Aerospace Norway (GAN) was spun off into a separate division from Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk.
Here—in Kongsberg—Norwegian industry and technological milestones were achieved. The production of TECs was substantial and contributed to establishing Norway as a leading player in manufacturing high-tech products and parts for military aircraft.
What are Turbine Exhaust Case and Turbine Rear Frame?
The Turbine Exhaust Case is the rearmost component in an aircraft engine. Its role is to direct airflow out of the engine and provide thrust to the aircraft.
What particularly distinguishes TEC from the other products that GAN manufactures is that it involves large welded structures requiring special production processes such as welding, heat treatment, and X-ray inspection.
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, there was only TEC.
TEC and TRF have been produced in an area we call T3.
An Important Production Area at GAN
The production of TEC/TRF has contributed many jobs, unique expertise, and significant revenue over the years. Production was so extensive that since 2017, it has been the largest time-consuming area at GAN.
Before COVID, T3 was at its peak and had a combined workforce of over 130 people. Additionally, it provided work for many support functions within the rest of the organization. In line with the increased volume over the past 40 years, unique disciplines have been built up, with both workshop and method expertise.
However, in 2020, it was decided that the production of TEC/TRF would close its final chapter in Kongsberg. Today, production is located at GKN Aerospace Sweden (GAS) in Trollhättan.
Where One Door Closes, Another Opens—For Opportunities and Development
At GAN, we set ambitious goals. Within our fields, we aim to be at the top. We strive to be the most reliable and sustainable partner in the world, or ‘in the sky’.
GKN’s Nordic production sites will refine and streamline value streams with their own Centers of Excellence (COE). This means that production sites will develop and establish expertise in their specific areas.
Trollhättan will now be a CoE for large welded structures, and thus the production of TEC and TRF in Kongsberg will be discontinued. Our Kongsberg division will become a CoE for turbine cases and shafts.
What are cases and shafts? Read more about what we do at GKN here.
As with any closing chapter, we close the book and send it to Trollhättan. But the story is not over yet—we have started on the sequel.
Since the decision was made in 2020, we have been actively working with our employees on reorganization and retraining. This includes welders and other functions that worked in the T3 production area. Some welders, after close training collaboration with K-Tech, have now become inspectors. Several have gained enhanced skills through cross-training, while others have been moved to similar positions and functions elsewhere in the company. This is to meet the needs for the way forward.
By doing so, we have utilized the competence already within the company but in new areas, retaining as many as possible. Meanwhile, we remain competitive on the products we will focus on moving forward—and evolve to reach new heights.
A 40-Year Legacy of Welding
On Monday, March 20, the last Turbine Rear Frame (TRF), of the type GENX 1B, was sent to the customer. A task that began in 2004 and has now officially ended. Since 2004, GAN has produced and delivered over 1,800 TRFs of this type. The program has provided us with many production hours and jobs.
The T3 production area has a history marked by significant challenges, high work ethic, 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.
- Milestone: First GEnx TRF in 2005
- Milestone: GE90 TRF in 2007
- Milestone: First PW1000 TEC in 2009
