Un tour à Stade, Chez le spécialiste des panneaux du A359 !
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And, They're Off: German Portion Of Airbus A350 XWB Production Underwa Thu, 02 Sep '10
Go-Ahead Given for The Largest Integrated Carbon Fiber
Component Ever Made By AirbusAirbus has begun production of the latest Airbus product, the
A350 XWB, in Germany. The green light was jointly given at the
company's production plant in Stade by Airbus President and CEO Tom
Enders, Executive Vice President Operations and Chairman of the
Board of Management Airbus Germany Gerald Weber, and Parliamentary
State Secretary and German government aerospace coordinator Peter
Hintze on Tuesday.
A350 XWB Computer RenderingThe first German component will also be one for the record books
for its size. Measuring almost 96 feet by 18 feet, the upper wing
shell is the largest integrated component ever to be built by
Airbus from weight-saving carbon fiber reinforced plastic
(CFRP).
"The A350 XWB sets new benchmarks for the aviation industry and
passengers. Advanced materials make the new Airbus the most
economical and environment-friendly aircraft in its class. We are
also applying these new standards to our production with facilities
and machinery operating to the highest technology and quality
standards. Thanks to this leading-edge production process, we are
able to achieve a very high efficiency," says Tom Enders.
The upper wing shells will be built using advanced production
processes at the production hangars in Stade. For the first time
automated tape-laying technology will be used not only for the
carbon fiber but also for the lightning strike protection and
fiberglass components. The wing shell will then undergo
polymerization in the autoclave. This high-tech oven is one of the
largest facilities of its kind, and can accommodate two wing shells
simultaneously.
A350 XWB AutoclaveIn addition to laying the wing skin panels, the plant also
produces the stringers (longitudinal stiffeners used in wing
panels). In order to produce these components Airbus has for the
first time set up a flow line production system which measures
about 420 feet in length.
Other innovations include an entirely new quality control system
which now permits inspection of the external and internal surfaces
of CFRP components of that size simultaneously. The advanced plant
also boasts the use of waterjet technology for edge trimming and a
high-precision automated conveyance system in the production hall
for large components.
In addition to producing the upper wing shells for the A350 XWB,
the Airbus Stade plant builds the vertical tailplane and, for the
first time, CFRP fuselage shells. Approximately 100 employees will
work in A350 XWB production by the end of 2010. This figure is
expected to rise to around 500 when production reaches full
capacity. The Stade plant also has its own dedicated combined heat
and power unit. This unit not only generates electricity and heat
for the hangars: the emissions are used as inert gas for the
autoclave and ensure fire protection. This means energy
exploitation of the power unit is an exceptional 100 percent.
JPRS