gkn

GKN plc, commonly referred to as GKN, is a British multinational engineering company that manufactures components for the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as materials technology. The company traces its origins to 1902, when Guest, Keen & Co. merged with Nettlefolds to form Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, the initials of which gave rise to the GKN name. Based in Birmingham, GKN developed into a global supplier of metal components, including driveline systems, gears, bearings, and aerospace structures, as well as powder metallurgy products.

Over its history, GKN expanded through research, acquisitions, and global manufacturing, serving customers in aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets. In 2018, the group was acquired by Melrose Industries, a private equity-backed manufacturing company. The acquisition led to a restructuring of the business into three core operations: GKN Aerospace, which designs and manufactures aircraft structures and systems; GKN Driveline, which develops drive systems and components for passenger cars and commercial vehicles; and GKN Powder Metallurgy, which provides powder-based metal parts.

Today, the GKN brands operate as part of Melrose Industries’ portfolio, with GKN Aerospace and GKN Driveline continuing as global suppliers with manufacturing and engineering capabilities across multiple continents. The company has historically been traded on the London Stock Exchange as GKN plc, though the ownership changed with the 2018 deal. GKN remains a widely recognized name in engineering, associated with aerospace structures and automotive drive technologies.