JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #111 - March 2017 - Special JEC World - 15

Airbus is open to innovation

small businesses should keep in
mind that Airbus is open to
innovation. This is why we are
curious to go see what is happening
in other sectors. For example,
we're working on water-jet
cleaning of moulds using a
technology based on boat-cleaning
techniques. The small business
that we contacted didn't even
think its expertise could be of
interest to the aerospace industry.
In addition Airbus has partnered
with Oracle Team USA where
they share a range of common
technical challenges.
JCM: Does the Technocentre
participate in this project?
Fig.1: Airbus A320neo air inlet production

backbone of the aircraft, and
subject to high loading - is made
using fibre placement. The team
of François Gregoire, project
leader on machinery, robotic and
automation, is currently doing
acceptance tests on some new
layup equipment to meet the
increasing production rate. The
technology choice was based on
the suitability of a standard
robotic solution as compared to
the more traditional heavy
infrastructure approach. In
logistical terms, for mould
handling operations, we went
from the three hours required for
installation using a crane to eight
minutes using automated lifting.
With moulds made of Invar (a
nickel-iron alloy) - necessary for
oversized parts and worth
millions of euros, you want to
optimise their utilisation. We are
also currently working on
automatically detecting the buildup of material residue at the layup
head so as to drastically reduce
machine interruptions and
unscheduled cleaning operations.
JCM: What qualities are you
looking for in these new

solutions?

explained by Sacha Karlin, head

C. C.: We are looking for of Manufacturing Engineering of
solutions which reduce the cycle
time and space required for a
process and the related
infrastructures, and that are
flexible, agile and robust. Our
existing processes are robust but
we can still work on improving
their efficiency. That is why each
Airbus production site has a
performance improvement team
who look for operational
innovations within the local
system, and our department
participates in this effort for
composites across all our plant. .

JCM: Are these the qualities that
were pursued in implementing
the A320neo Air Inlet Flow Line?

C. C.: Yes, we opted for a mobile
Flow Line organization for the
A320neo acoustic panels, and
went from a highly complex
machine which combined 3
operations in 3 different stations,
to a series of simple stations
where only one or two operations
are carried out, with a maximum
number of tasks carried out in
concurrent operational time as
the conveyor moves along. As

air inlets and radomes during our
visit, the output has more than
doubled. We optimised our
process flow so that the moulds
spend the minimum time
possible on the line, which will
enable the high volumes to be
produced in future. We also
acquired vertical-load autoclaves
designed specifically for these
parts. There were multiple gains:
less floor space taken up, easier
loading, and recently the
Development
Department
brought some added value
reducing the thermal cycle and
temperature gradients in the part
using numerical modelling and a
heat deflector. The cure cycle
time was reduced by 25%, and
there was also significantly less
investment consumed.
JCM: Why are you connecting
with start-ups?

C. C.: Because they have less
constraints than we have to think
out of the box. It is always easier
to be more creative when you are
not in a specific frame given by an
industry. Start-ups and innovative
No111 March 2017

C. C.: Yes, the idea for Airbus here
was to go from R&T to producing
innovative services, thanks both
to a "small business" frame of
mind in house, and to a readiness
to open up to the external market.
The Technocentre uses the
services of start-ups and innovative
companies, and also gives them
access to permanent promotion
in our recently launched exhibition
area, which is a technological
showcase
of
the
latest
demonstrators and innovative
solutions. Having a foothold on
the Technocampus means being
able to share know-how among
different industrial sectors, from
marine to automotive and
transportation, etc.
As for the Technocentre's training
programmes, pragmatism is also
the norm, with a "zero PowerPoint"
approach and entirely "practical
case" culture. Each training
programme is tailored to the
individual needs. To increase their
expertise and share their own
knowledge, over 500 people from
Airbus Nantes have access to the
Technocentre, although it is also
very open to a wider community
and receives other companies and
other sectors besides aerospace.

/ jec composites magazine

15
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #111 - March 2017 - Special JEC World
