Keywords
Citation
(1999), "Autoclave refurbishment", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1999.12771cab.016
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Autoclave refurbishment
Autoclave refurbishment
Keywords Brookhouse Composites, Curing
Following a comprehensive refurbishment of its range of on-site autoclaves, Brookhouse Composites Ltd, of Darwen, Lanashire, UK reports that it can now offer an even faster turnround and more stringent control of the quality of both new and repaired composite components, used in a wide variety of industries but especially in the aerospace sector.
Brookhouse operates three autoclaves at its India Mill headquarters, extending from 3m to 6.7m in length and from 1.5m to 3.35m in diameter (Plate 7). These are used to cure repaired or new composite components under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. A major part of the refurbishment project has been the updating of the autoclave temperature and pressure systems to comply with customer requirements for increasingly stringent curing control.
In addition, all computer systems associated with the autoclaves have been enhanced to ensure Y2K compliance, in line with Brookhouse's overall Y2K integrity policy.
Brookhouse Composites offers a total composites manufacture and repair facility for composite components. This facility includes design of composite tooling, extensive, controlled environment clean rooms for composite lay-up, curing ovens and the autoclave capacity to handle large and complex assemblies as well as minor details and small components.
The company claims particular expertise in the aerospace industry, in both the civil and military sectors. It carries quality certification from all of the leading aircraft manufacturers and UK defence organisations and has enjoyed approval to JAR-21 from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK as a manufacturer and supplier of aircraft composite components. In 1996, it was awarded JAR-145 approval to carry out maintenance and repair of aircraft composite components and was the first composites structures manufacturing company to gain approval for the manufacture of aircraft composite components for use in the aircraft of all 28 countries which belong to the Joint Aviation Authority.
Further details from Keith Slater at Brookhouse Composites Ltd, India Mill, Darwen, BB3 1AD, Lancs, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1254 706000.