Automation helps aerospace “lift-off”

Citation

(2006), "Automation helps aerospace “lift-off”", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778daf.007

Automation helps aerospace “lift-off”

Automation helps aerospace “lift-off”

Keywords: Automotive industry, Aerospace industry

With extensive experience in the supply of turnkey automation projects to the automotive and other industries, Hyde Group Automation Ltd has recently spread its' wings, having recently completed work on a number of key projects in the aerospace sector (Plate 1).

Plate 1 Digital representation of intelligent integrated tooling as part of an automatic robotic welding cell designed and manufactured by Hyde Group Automation Ltd

Trends in recent years have seen the successful transfer of skills and technology from a stalling automotive industry to a soaring aerospace sector. Aerospace-related manufacturing and supply companies are beginning to realise the benefits from process improvements achieved through automation, or the use of advanced control systems and robotics. It is in this area that Hyde Group Automation is beginning to have significant impact, helping UK-based aerospace firms challenge often better equipped European competitors for lucrative contracts.

Hyde Group Automation and its sister company Park Engineering Ltd (which provides manufacturing and tooling services from the same premises), are part of the Hyde Group, the biggest privately owned tooling company in Europe and a specialist aerospace organisation.

The core business of Hyde Group Automation is to design and manufacture simple or complex special purpose machinery and automation systems from concept and initial design, through to adaptation and integration into full production.

By definition, components used with the aerospace sector are larger than those deployed in most other industries, hence Hyde Group Automation are involved in a structured programme of heavy investment. New facilities include a purpose built assembly area that is 30 m by 20 m, with 9 m under crane height, as well as a five-axis CNC machining centre with a 5 m bed and a purpose-built temperature controlled co-ordinate measuring facility.

Recent aerospace projects completed by the company include involvement with the installation of the A3 80 Airbus wing jigs at Brougton, where three sets of 110 m long, five-storey high jigs were installed and calibrated over a six month period using three laser tracker work teams.

Another project involved the design and manufacture of a turbulence control screen (TCS) to enable a jet engine to be tested for noise according to CAA regulations. The TCS consisted of 415 hexagon shaped panels made from stainless steel sheet and honeycomb aluminium. Upon completion it measured nearly 10 m in diameter and weighed 32 tonne. Hyde Group Automation even designed and manufactured a portable building for the TCS to protect it from the weather, exemplifying a true turnkey solution.

The company also remains very active in the automotive sector, recently completing projects that include automated welding and riveting cells, as well as workstations and fixtures for auto seat manufacture and engine transfer lines.

With so much expertise to offer in the field of automation and robotics, Hyde Group Automation has demonstrated it is more than capable of providing turnkey solutions to the most demanding of engineering problems. Approvals include ISO 9001 and ASEN 9100 together with Airbus and BAe Systems.

Details available from: Hyde Group Automation Ltd, Tel: +44 (0) 845 053 2373, Fax: +44 (0)161 431 8154, e-mail: info@hydegroupautomation.com web site: www. hydegroupautomation.com