Premium AEROTEC opens new assembly line in Nordenham

Augsburg/Nordenham, 23 September 2016 The aviation industry supplier Premium AEROTEC continues modernisation of its shell assembly for the A320 series at its Nordenham site.
Joined by Tom Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus, the company commissioned its new assembly line, which is based on a continuous cycling principle that facilitates a highly efficient assembly procedure.

The shells for assembly spend about two and a half hours at one station before being automatically transported to the next station via the new assembly line. It is thus no longer necessary to transport the partially assembled shells using a crane. Supply of components is also precisely tailored to the relevant stage of assembly. A lift delivers the necessary materials directly to the work platform – pre-sorted according to the workflow and supplied on a transportation trolley per assembly sequence.

“For Premium AEROTEC this represents the start of a new era in aircraft production, as this sequence-based assembly line is an example of how our company is changing with regard to innovation” said Dr. Thomas Ehm, Chairman of the Executive Board. “When it comes to global competition it is not just about the quality of our products. A key factor is that, thanks to sensible and efficient use of the most up-to-date production methods, we are also economically attractive.”

The new assembly line enables the assembly time for the shells for the A320 series to be reduced by 40 percent. Standardised work stages enable continuous quality control and also ensure that the stations are equipped for precisely the work undertaken there. This results in ergonomic improvements for employees, such as working in the best possible position and with the support of lifting aids.

“Our teams have been working towards this day for a long time – and it has been well worth it. Shell assembly is the very heart of our site and from today onwards it will be beating in a different rhythm,” said Cord Siefken, Head of the Nordenham site. “This line is unique in the aviation industry and enables us to enjoy higher production rates while dealing with larger components. Both of these aspects are important for the future of our Nordenham site.”

From 2017 on, Premium AEROTEC will also assemble the fuselage shells for the revamped A321 on this new assembly line. These will be the longest metal shells ever to be manufactured at the Nordenham site. Following commissioning, additional functions will gradually be added to the new assembly line.

Premium AEROTEC generated revenues of 2 billion euros in 2015. The company’s core business lies in the development and production of metal and carbon fibre composite aircraft structures. The company has manufacturing sites in Augsburg, Bremen, Nordenham and Varel in Germany, as well as in Braşov in Romania. For further information see: www.premium-aerotec.com.