New Airbus Automated Fuselage Structure Assembly Line Focused On A320 Family

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The new automated fuselage structure assembly line at Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany, facility features the use of 20 robots and a Flextrack modular, lightweight automated system. (Photo courtesy of Airbus.)

Airbus recently introduced a “highly automated fuselage structure assembly line” at its Hamburg, Germany, facility dedicated to A320 Family aircraft production. Featuring 20 robots, a new logistics concept, automated laser-measurement positioning, and digital data-acquisition system, the assembly line is focused on producing longer sections for the Airbus A321LR. Airbus says the line’s new approach and technologies will support efforts to enhance quality and efficiency and bring “an enhanced level of digitalization” to its industrial production system.

Ramping Up

Airbus says the A320 is its most popular aircraft ever and features the widest single-aisle cabin “in the sky.” The A320 is available in an original version and more recent A320neo variant that features Airbus’ Sharklet wingtip devices and a choice of Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM or CFM International LEAP-1A engines. While the A320neo Family “offers maximum benefit with minimal changes” from the baseline models, Airbus says, it will provide 20% per-seat fuel improvements by 2020, 50% noise reduction, and up to an additional 500 nautical miles (925 kilometers) of range.

Airbus COO Michael Schoellhorn says, “Increasing the level of automation and robotics enables faster, more efficient manufacturing while keeping our prime focus on quality.” Taking the A320 Family’s success and order backlog into consideration, he says, “We are taking the necessary steps to ensure our production system can match the excellence of our products and that we are able to satisfy our customers’ needs for our single-aisle aircraft.” Airbus has taken 6,500 orders from 100-plus customers to date for A320neo Family aircraft.

Robots At The Ready

Airbus’ new assembly line includes a Flextrack component that’s described as a modular, lightweight automated system in which eight robots drill and countersink 1,100 to 2,400 holes per longitudinal joint. Another production step involves 12 robots each operating on seven axes. Airbus is also implementing new material- and parts logistics-related methods and technologies, including autonomous vehicles.

You’ll find dozens of new and used Airbus aircraft for sale every day on Controller.com, including A320 models and others.

Source: Airbus

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