AIC Group has received an order to upgrade two autoclaves of a major Japanese aerospace company. One of the autoclaves used for curing wings measures 8.5 m in diameter and 40 m in length, big enough to house the entire wing span of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Because of its size, it presents extra challenges to ensure even heating and cooling. The other measures 3.5 m x 12 m.
Both of the autoclaves are 13 years old and some of their components are obsolete, so they need to be upgraded to ensure reliability of production. The Japanese aerospace company make 12 sets of wings per month, with each wing costing US$2.5 million, so the company cannot afford any unnecessary downtime.
‘Autoclaves are essential for manufacturers in the aerospace industry,’ said Jamie Hardiment, AIC’s head of business development. ‘We are taking two standard use autoclaves and making them as good as new by upgrading many of the features.’
This story is reprinted from material from AIC, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
