WALLINGFORD An aerospace manufacturing company plans to open a new facility on Research Parkway.

GKN Aerospace, an international company that produces aerospace components for commercial and military consumers, is opening a new plant in a former warehouse at 14 Research Parkway, a company spokesperson confirmed Friday.

The Wallingford facility will be an extension of the companys existing plant in Cromwell. The company also has locations in Manchester and Newington and is a major supplier to Pratt & Whitney.

From this section: New Ferris wheel, big raffle prize at Wallingford church bazaar

The Research Parkway plant will produce advanced aerospace technology for the commercial and military sectors. The company spokesperson could not provide any more details about the facility or when it will open.

Tim Ryan, the towns Economic Development Specialist, said the new facility will create a sizable number of manufacturing jobs, benefiting the local economy.

I dont think its an understatement to say were thrilled that a company as solid as GKN has chosen Wallingford for its most recent expansion, Ryan said. Economies that create things have a higher level of sustainability in the long run.

GKN Aerospace has over two dozen manufacturing sites in America.

The Wallingford facility will be opened in a warehouse previously used as a paper distribution center by Lindenmeyr Munroe. The property is roughly 70,000 square feet and has an assessed value of $2.8 million.

According to recent building permits, the company spent $15,000 on mechanical equipment and $20,000 on a data room for the Research Parkway facility earlier this year.

The Research Parkway plant will open one mile away from the Bristol Myers Squibbs facility at 5 Research Parkway. Bristol-Myers is leaving Connecticut by 2018 as part of a nationwide restructuring of its operations.

mzabierek@record-journal.com 203-317-2279 Twitter: @MatthewZabierek

More:

Aerospace manufacturer expanding into Wallingford - Meriden Record-Journal