Lift-off for the next millennium

Citation

(2003), "Lift-off for the next millennium", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775baf.001

Lift-off for the next millennium

Lift-off for the next millennium

Keywords: Vibro-Meter S.A., Companies, Engines

Vibro-Meter S.A. was established in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1952 by Dr Merkle – a noted Swiss economist – and a small group of experienced engineers. During the early years, Vibro-Meter designed and manufactured high technology instrumentation. The first products measured load, force, vibration, displacement and other physical parameters and the first customers were universities, research laboratories and large companies.

Today, Vibro-Meter's facility includes development laboratories, production workshops, extensive quality assurance facilities, field service and administrative offices. In the mid 1960s, Vibro-Meter became involved in aerospace, a technology and market which dramatically changed its prospects. The company diversified into this business by tackling one of the industry's perennial problems – engine vibration monitoring (EVM). The first full EVM system was installed on the Swissair Coronado in 1964, when Vibro-Meter proposed a new type of vibration sensor, a piezo-electric accelerometer, that proved to be rugged, accurate and reliable, together with on-board processing electronics. Early follow-on successes included the Concorde and the RB211.

EVM systems measure and process engine related vibration signals from engine mounted accelerometers. The goal of this measurement is to provide information to the flight crew and the maintenance staff regarding the health of the engine.

The pioneering development of piezo-electric accelerometers did much to improve reliability on the sensor side and was Vibro-Meter's first step on the road to becoming a respected world leader in aviation vibration monitoring solutions.

In parallel to the success of piezo-electric sensors in Aerospace, Vibro-Meter expanded into the monitoring of many other basic parameters in the Industrial market, with the introduction of the machinery monitoring system (MMS). This heralded Vibro-Meter's expansion into the field of modular systems for industrial condition monitoring.

In 1981, Aviation's first digital EVM system was introduced on the CF6- 80/B767. The optimal mix of proven analogue and digital technology gave high liability and low cost of ownership.

In addition to the primary function of vibration measurement, Vibro-Meter provides a fan trim balance (FTB) function in its latest EVMs. The FTB data is collected during regular flights for later use in balancing engines, thus contributing to effective cost savings.

The universal engine vibration monitoring unit (UEVM), introduced in 2001, is an important milestone in the evolution of EVM systems at Vibro-Meter S.A. Unlike previous designs that have been dedicated to a particular aircraft/engine combination, the new UEVM recognises which aircraft/engine combination it is fitted to and adapts its functionality accordingly. The UEVM allows the aircraft or engine manufacturer to use just one part number for all its production aircraft or engines, leading to significant savings.

An extension of the UEVM is the advanced engine vibration monitor (AEVM), introduced to meet the shift in market requirements from vibration monitoring to condition monitoring. It contains an additional micro-processor controlled condition monitoring card that can be programmed to perform a virtually unlimited range of special monitoring tasks associated with a particular engine application.

Dr Richard W. Greaves, Chief Executive Officer observed that, "When Vibro-Meter was established – I was not here, but I am told that Canton Fribourg was rather rural – living up to the foreign view of Switzerland with one important exception – we had the cows and the chocolate, but we were not a banking or industrial centre. At least we can perhaps now say that Fribourg is on the world map in one high-tech sector, aerospace."

Richard went on to state that, "Vibro-Meter has developed into a specialist in avionics, transducers and cables for EVM systems used on almost all commercial aircraft and engines. Its experience in reducing highly reliable products has also been applied to Engine and Propeller Interface Units, Central Maintenance Computers and Data Management Units."

In 1970s Vibro-Meter diversified into the nuclear business, supplying piezo-electric transducers for start-up, hot functional tests and permanent monitoring of nuclear reactors.

Vibro-Meter's involvement in designing measuring systems for space applications began in 1987, thanks to the experience acquired in designing monitoring systems for aircraft engines and nuclear reactors. Vibro-Meter's instrumentation supported the development of the Vulcain and Vulcain 2 engines of the Ariane 5 launcher. Today, many Vibro-Meter systems are flight qualified for Ariane 5. The company is able to measure displacement, relative and absolute vibration, rotational speed and dynamic pressure of the engine's liquid oxygen and hydrogen turbopumps.

A further step was taken in 1996 with the development, under an ESA GSTP contract, of a high resolution standard proximity sensor (HRSPS) for use in satellite applications. The IRSPS is intended to become the standard for space qualified high-resolution displacement measuring systems.

The requirements of the space industry led to the development of sensors to work in a cryogenic environment, where high pressure and thermal transients present the most demanding conditions for instrumentation. Vibro-Meter thus developed cryogenic dynamic pressure transducers and accelerometers with built-in electronics.

Vibro-Meter's space division now offers piezo-electric, vibration and dynamic pressure instrumentation, both qualified for space applications within extreme environments, ranging from 253°C to +760°C ( 23°F to +1,400°F).

The firm's voyage into space was based on experience acquired with jet engines, nuclear reactors, rocket engines and systems for industrial and marine applications. Through attention to the needs of its customers and continuous technical development, Vibro-Meter remains the world leader in specialised sensors for extreme environment applications.

Vibro-Meter's sensor and signal processing expertise has also been applied to helicopters, both civil and military, in the form of the unique ROTABS, rotor trim and balance system, and in health and usage monitoring system (HUMS). In 2002, Vibro-Meter was the main supplier of vibration systems to Airbus, Boeing and Embraer, with a 95 per cent share of the world market for the supply of EVM units for civil aircraft.

The year of Vibro-Meter's 50th anniversary marked a major breakthrough in its aviation business with the successful transition from EVM to condition monitoring, placing it amongst the leaders in the market. In May 2001 Rolls-Royce awarded the company a contract for an engine condition monitoring unit, which will be mounted on each engine. This award was made in the context of the new Trent 900 engine, four of which will power the new Airbus A380 aircraft.

In October 2001, Vibro-Meter successfully passed the critical design review with Rolls-Royce and Airbus Industrie. Rolls-Royce intends that this system will be fitted to many of its different engines, leading to potential sales of SFr. 250M over a 10 years period – however, development, is in its early days and it will not be certified until 2005. Other engine manufacturers are reported to be showing much interest in Vibro-Meter's capabilities – the company is in advanced discussions with other engine manufacturers for similar units.

Vibro-Meter's business is not only set to expand in this way. Under Meggitt, its mother company, Vibro-Meter was given responsibility in 2001 for another engine sensing company within the group in New Hampshire, USA – this company, with USD20M turnover was renamed Vibro-Meter Inc.

An important milestone on the industrial side is the fact that the Industrial market was the first domain to move toward condition monitoring, prior to Aerospace. This new trend led to the concept of a flexible, configurable system that was perfected in the VM600 suite of hardware and software solutions for industry, launched in 2000. It set the way forward for new modular digital monitoring units for industrial rotating machinery.

Significantly, in its golden jubilee year Vibro-Meter successfully positioned itself in the domain of condition monitoring for the next 50 years, as domonstrated by its winning of the major contract to supply the generic engine monitoring unit (GEMU) for the new 380 aircraft. In addition, it has been selected as Tier I partner to Goodrich for the supply of the complete package of sensors to Rolls-Royce Plc.

For further information, please contact: Vibro-Meter S.A. Tel: +41 26 407 11 11; Fax: +41 26 402 36 62; E-mail: info@vibro-meter.com; Web site: www.vibro-meter.com