The production of airplane components is subject to strict regulations and approvals by several end customers. This also applies to a possible blasting process and must therefore be considered when designing an installation.
Approximately 15 years ago, Leering Hengelo delivered a blasting hall with robot to Fokker/GKN. Since the dimensions of the wing components to be blasted have become larger over the years, however, there was a need for a new blasting hall with robot.
A few months ago, Leering Hengelo provided a new blasting hall in accordance with state-of-the-art technology.
The installation is equipped with:
- Low-maintenance, electrically driven scraper floor (Sweepomatic) for the constant removal of the abrasive
- Electrically operated roller shutters with good sound insulation, sealing and protection against trapping
- Fully automatic robot with a wide range in width, height and length (linear transport system along the entire length of the blasting hall)
- Optimal cleaning of the abrasive by means of a double-deck sieve
- The possibility to blast with a pressure starting at 0.5 bar. To this end, a special feature has been installed in the blastpot. This relatively low pressure is necessary because the components to be blasted are very critical. Consequently, a manual blasting process is impossible and/or not allowed.
- From the point of view of energy, the choice has been made to return part of the cleaned air to the blasting hall.
- The remainder of the air is sent back to the production hall via an additional high-efficiency particulate air filter. This reduces dust emissions to a minimum.
By purchasing this fully automatic blasting hall from Leering Hengelo, Fokker/GKN is prepared for the future, and now able to automatically blast other products in addition to wing components.