Aerospace jigs & tools
Pylon equipment assembly line, A320 Neo
To increase the production rate of the Airbus A320 NEO at the Toulouse location, MCE was commissioned with the construction of three highly-automated finishing lines in 2017. For the installation of the new manufacturing station, the very latest automation technologies and Industry 4.0 were implemented. These allow for real-time management and control of the production by way of a manufacturing execution system.
Aerospace jigs & tools
Pulse-line section 15/21, Airbus A318 – A321
For the first time, the structural assembly of Airbus fuselages was to take place using pulse-line production. For this, a new assembly line had to be developed. MCE developed a roughly 50-metre-long production line with six consecutive assembly stations at the Hamburg location. The individual stations are connected by way of a geometry carrier. The system features an accuracy tolerance of max. 0.2 millimetre
Aerospace jigs & tools
Hosted payload transport container
MCE fabricates transport containers for the air transportation of satellite components for the aerospace company OHB AG. These hosted payload transport containers pick the components up, so they are fully suspended, minimizing the impacts of vibrations. To ensure that no damage is incurred if pressure drops in the aircraft, a special cover provides a gas-tight, tempered cleanroom as protection.
Aerospace jigs & tools
Prefal Airbus, A350XWB
With the commencement of the build of the A350XWB at the Hamburg location, Airbus debuted the lightweight construction of the aircraft's fuselage in 2009. This new production style required new assembly methods, which is why MCE developed a novel concept for this. The Measurement-Assisted Assembly System enables the fully automatic positioning of the aircraft components with the help of laser trackers.
Aerospace jigs & tools
A350, twin wing transport jig
To meet its increased internal logistical needs, Airbus developed a new and bigger transport aircraft, the BelugaXL, which for the first time made it possible to transport 2 A350 wings with just one transportation device.
MCE received and successfully implemented the order to develop and construct these transportation devices in 2017. Since the transportation jigs were also used for the approval and certification of the BelugaXL, in addition to fulfilling the strict technical and qualitative requirements, the deadline was also a top priority.
Aerospace jigs & tools
A321, ACF sea container for super shell
To securely transport the ACF shell by ship from Nordenham to Hamburg, in 2017, MCE was commissioned with the development and construction of transport containers and the accompanying transport carriage for the ACF super shell. This “detached house” on wheels is air-conditioned and is transported to and from the ship by a towing vehicle.
Aerospace jigs & tools
A380, furnishing platforms
One of the first Airbus contracts granted to MCE was building 6 furnishing platforms for the A380 in 2003. Along with the access points and logistics areas spanning multiple levels, the challenge also included raising the platform by 500 mm so that the A380 could be rolled into place for assembly. This was achieved by using a spindle drive, which was affixed to the struts of the hangar ceiling.
Aerospace jigs & tools
A320 family, equipment pulse line
Thanks to MCE’s outstanding references for equipment pulse lines with Airbus, we had the honour of supplying the majority of these lines for the models A320, A330/A340, and A350. The main emphasis here is on ergonomic access to all work contents, taking both occupational safety and logistics requirements into consideration. MCE was first tasked with supplying an equipment pulse line for a French location in 2011. In total, MCE has constructed 8 equipment pulse lines for the equipment assembly of aircraft fuselages for various Airbus locations.
Aerospace jigs & tools
A350 Rear Pressure Bulkhead (RPB), Shift Station
Airbus has reorganized the manufacturing concept of the aircraft rear section S19 for the A350, including moving production from Germany to Spain.
Developing the new concept of the assembly process, delivering every station in the line, and the implementation works were all included in MCE’s scope. It is the first project for MCE at Airbus Spain. Once again, automated measurement-assisted assembly processes were implemented. Moreover, the control system was reinvented.
Aerospace jigs & tools
A321neo ACF Station
Originally intended as an individual building station for a new cabin variant of the A321neo, MCE was commissioned with the realization of a total of 4 structural building stations that were by and large identical in construction. Alongside these high-precision assembly stations for assembling the shells and floor grid for section 17, MCE also supplied the necessary transport and presentation frames, and floor grid stations.
