With the opening of its new facility in 2016, Liebherr-Aerospace Saline, Inc., Michigan (USA) launched a completely new type of service in Liebherr's aerospace and transportation systems division: The servicing of heat transfer equipment or so-called heat exchangers.
Having received the Occupancy Permit from the City of Saline and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to release equipment to service, the team in Saline started work on the first components in the second half of the year: with a mix of Liebherr-owned equipment for exchanges and customer equipment, such as Bombardier CRJ series aircraft, Airbus Fuel Tank Inerting System equipment and Airbus ATA 21 equipment.
In order to implement the latest technological developments, to ensure accuracy and generate time savings, it was furthermore decided to implement non-contact metrology. This technique which features, through laser guidance, fixturing, welding and eventually cutting, is commonplace in manufacturing, but had not been implemented in this type of service industry. Where feasible, it will allow for robotic welding and cutting as well.
“We are enthusiastic about progress so far, and confident that 2017 will allow us to show a full year’s worth of activity in a new environment for us”, states Alex Vlielander, President Liebherr-Aerospace Saline, Inc.