At the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, and in the presence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Airbus Helicopters has signed a Letter of Intent recently to adopt Airborne’s digital automation technologies for it’s factory in Le Bourget (Paris), France.
The goal is to optimise manufacturing efficiency and output of composite rotor hubs and helicopter blades. The intent is to implement both Airborne’s main software and automation systems: Automated Ply Placement and Kit by Light.
The focus will be on new automation and software to boost productivity and efficiency at Airbus’s Le Bourget factory in France.
This factory makes all composite helicopter blades and hub structures for all Airbus helicopter models, both military and civil.
“It’s a high-mix production environment, ramping up to meet increasing demand, and Airborne’s industrialisation technologies are an excellent fit” says Marcus Kremers, CTO of Airborne.
Two automation systems
The project covers two of Airborne’s main automation systems, Kit by Light (KBL) and Automated Ply Placement (APP).
APP is already used by Airbus Commercial for the A350 programme. It automates the layup process from cutter to laminate and can be used for both prepreg and dry fibre, both of which are processed in Le Bourget.
In this project, new features regarding part size, layup and quality inspection are planned to be added.
KBL is already in use at Airbus Helicopters’ sister plant in Donauwörth (Germany), where it supports operators in the cutting room with software that significantly accelerates kitting.
Building on that experience, plans are to implement the system in the Le Bourget factory to reduce material waste and increase output.
Main image: Copyright Airborne
