Composite springs from GKN
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FULL PRODUCTION of GKN's composite commercial vehicle leaf springs has begun on target at the company's Telford, Shropshire, plant, although the first customer for the epoxy reinforced glass fibre units remains a secret.
GKN has invested ilOm in the development of composite springs (CM, February 18,
1984), with the first units expected to be used on light vehicles.
A pilot plant has already been operating at the group's technical centre in Wolverhampton producing prototype units using the same production techniques employed at Telford. Production capacity at the Telford plant is up to 600,000 springs a year.
Development orders are being discussed with major European manufacturers, according to GKN, as well as heavy truck builders in the US and Japan. An announcement on the first UK manufacturer to fit the GKN composite springs is expected around October.