Keywords
Citation
(1998), "Industry minister performs a riveting job on Airbus wings", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770fab.032
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited
Industry minister performs a riveting job on Airbus wings
Industry minister performs a riveting job on Airbus wings
Keywords British Aerospace, Rivets, Wings
A new £5 million low voltage electro-magnetic riveter (LVER), part of British Aerospace Airbus' investment in innovative manufacturing processes, has been put through its paces by John Battle MP, the UK Minister for Science, Energy and Industry on a visit to the company's site near Chester (Plate 12). As he operated the machine on its first panel for a production aircraft Mr Battle said: "The UK has a world-class aerospace industry. The improvement in systems and efficiency I have seen at British Aerospace Airbus shows the quality of the civil aerospace sector in the UK at the moment. I believe that in partnership with Europe we will be able to meet the international competitiveness challenge".
Plate 12 John Battle MP, operating the LVER
at British Aerospace near Chester, UK
The new LVER automatically drills more than 8,200 holes and inserts rivets and bolts to attach strengthening "stringers" to each 62 feet long, 9 feet wide Airbus single aisle aircraft top skin wing panel. The machine forms part of an ongoing investment programme aimed at further increasing efficiency and reducing costs as wing deliveries increase for the successful Airbus family of aircraft.
The 160 tonne LVER is able to carry out in one location and in less than five days one of the major, time-consuming manufacturing processes which previously involved moving the wing panels three times and took up to 15 days. The machine will bring cost savings within the process of some 30 per cent.
When up to full operational capacity, the LVER will produce top skin wing panels for eight single aisle aircraft a month, helping the company meet its production commitments. Currently single aisle wing production is increasing to 18 aircraft wingsets a month this year and is rising again to 22 a month through 1999.