8 April 2020:In an effort to strengthen the engine MRO capabilities, Aero Norway has invested USD 1.5 million in a new state-of-the-art high speed grinder. Thus positioning itself as a leading full service engine MRO, this purchase will further ensure that stable and efficient turn-around times are maintained so that the services Aero Norway’s customers are being offered remain at the forefront of engine MRO technology capabilities.
The Danobat mBTG-800 High Speed Blade Tip Grinding Machine is manufactured for the precision grinding, deburring and measuring of the blade tips of finished assembled engine turbine and APU rotors.
“The investment of USD 1.5 million in this piece of equipment allows us to grind the rotor blade tips whilst they are being spun at high speed. This presents the blades to the grinding wheel as they would be if they were in operation,” said Glenford Marston, CEO of Aero Norway. “We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of engine MRO and the purchase of this machine ensures that we can offer the highest degree of accuracy possible with current technologies on blade tip grinding.”
“The biggest challenge we faced was the incorporation of the grinder into our machine park. This required the addition of bespoke concrete foundations to support the machine as well as a reorganisation of the shop floor,” said Neil Russell Chief Operating Officer for Aero Norway. “We focus heavily on lean production whilst maintaining competitive turn-around times and best serving our customers and the investment in this state-of-the-art piece of equipment will enable us to achieve these standards. The introduction of the grinder has also augmented the capabilities of our shop floor technicians who have received specialist operational training from Danobat.”
Currently the machine is being used on every engine core performance work scope and is the only system approved by the OEM. The operation of the grinder is fully automatic and features all-digital technology to ensure the integrity of the system.