INDUSTRY News
A new green type of rudder for Airbus A320 aircraft
EconCore, Airbus, the Technical University of Denmark and Fraunhofer have joined forces to create a new, green and sustainable type of rudder for the Airbus A320 aircraft, based on thermoplastic honeycomb sandwich composites.
In line with today’s sustainability goals, green composites are expected to replace conventional thermoset materials such as phenolic resin honeycombs robustness and durability in harsh environements. In addition, the thermoplastic constituent materials should be recyclable. Within the scope of the project, thermoplastic honeycomb sandwich structures will be produced and evaluated against the requirements for the rudder, and a recycling concept for the panels will be demonstrated. Beside the extensive testing and analysis to ensure that the materials aircraft component, a detailed life-cycle analysis will also 2
footprint of the
ABB COLUMN
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE WITH ROBOTIC AUTOMATION
As companies look to reduce their carbon footprint to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, many are looking at where their components and subassemblies are made to assess if that could be done more sustainably. One way is to cut the miles that components
travel, by making them in factories nearer to their home markets. By reshoring or near-shoring
their production and rebuilding manufacturing capacity closer to home, companies can cut the emissions involved in long distance transport - a particular issue with ships, which are regarded as highly polluting. Bringing production ‘home’ also allows companies to choose to source electricity from their preferred renewable suppliers.
Statistics show that some 75% of companies are planning to boost their reshoring plans by building smart factories in their home countries. In addition to cutting emissions, reshoring can also improve quality, again cutting energy use because there’ll be a lesser need to rework or reform components.
Robots will help reap the benefits Robotic automation is key in gaining benefits of reshoring. With skilled labour being in short supply in many nations, 75% of European businesses plan to invest in robotics and automation within the next three years. This is particularly important in such quality-sensitive operations like welding: robots can use feedback from vision systems to create complex weld profiles, getting it right first time and avoiding the need for rework. Robots are also becoming easier to use and programme by inexperienced
staff. This ensures changeovers are made more quickly, and less energy and time are wasted in trial movements or new sequence run-throughs. With VR and simulation techniques, new tasks can be assessed offline before the robot even moves.
Another ability of robotic cells is to inspect components in extreme detail to assess quality. With better assessment of how many quality products are being produced, returns and rework are kept to a minimum. Offering the rapid deployment and flexibility that manufacturers need, modern robotic solutions help companies set up smart factories quickly and cost-effectively, ensuring they gain the full benefits of reshoring and near-shoring.
Nigel Platt, LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | July/August 2023
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