BEYOND SURFACES

the challenge is for aircraft manu- facture to keep pace with that growth in demand without causing fuel consumption and emissions to skyrocket — and that means finding ways to reduce engine weight. “Lighter engines can improve fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and also increase the aircraft payload,” explains Ad Verbeek, Head of Oerlikon Metco’s Eldim Turbine Components business line. “If you look at the technology, where do we help our customers? The tolerances on the parts become much smaller, and the parts design is different. Both changes require more advanced manufacturing technologies.” To illustrate the point, he describes one manufacturing and machining challenge that Oerlikon is address- ing: the development of compo- nents that are as thin and as flexible as sheet metal — but the tolerances that have to be maintained are the narrow ones of machined parts. Bringing solutions to market requires collaboration with the engine OEMs that develop the designs. “As manufacturing experts, we give our customers feedback on the manufacturability of the parts,” Verbeek says. “We manufacture complex parts and can do every- thing in-house, so customers don’t have to subcontract.” This partnership gives Oerlikon an “unseen” but essential role in automotive and aviation mobility advances. The world is seeking new ways to move faster and smarter than ever, and we’re here to help our customers make that progress happen. Beyond SURFACeS 02|2020 41