GENERAL NEWS
Airbus inaugurates new A320 Family final assembly line
Airbus inaugurated its new A320 Family final assembly line ( FAL ) in Toulouse , France , this July during a ceremony attended by French Minister of Economy & Finance , Bruno Le Maire ; French Transport Minister , Clément Beaune ; Minister of State for Industry , Roland Lescure and Minister of State for Territorial Collectivities and Rural Affairs , Dominique Faure , as well as hundreds of Airbus employees .
“ The inauguration of this new A321- capable final assembly line in Toulouse represents another milestone in the ongoing modernisation of our global industrial system . This FAL will contribute to the ongoing production rate ramp-up to 75 A320 Family aircraft per month in 2026 , while meeting the increased demand for A321s which currently represents around 60 per cent of the total
First A321 moulding in Toulouse ( station 41 ).
Full house for Blechexpo / Schweisstec 2023 in Stuttgart
Don ’ t miss ISMR ’ s preview of the 16th Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal working / 9th Schweisstec joining technology exhibition on page 47 of this issue . Taking place at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre , Germany , from 7-10 November 2023 , its nine exhibition halls are now fully booked .
“ On the whole , it can be seen that process automation is being driven further and further in sheet metalworking ,” said project manager , Georg Knauer ( P . E . Schall ). “ Methods based on data-driven , artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning are being exploited to a greater extent in production operations to optimise processes and , as a result , reduce lead times .
“ Efficient sheet-metal processing necessitates flexible machine tools , modern software and virtual simulation . These issues will be addressed intensively at the trade fair . The challenge is sustainability , and in sheet-metal processing this means optimum
A320 Family backlog ,” said Airbus CEO , Guillaume Faury .
“ We ’ re pleased to see this new facility join our worldwide network of final assembly sites which will comprise four FALs in Hamburg , Germany ; two in Toulouse , France ; two in Mobile , United States ; and two in Tianjin , China , all them capable of assembling the A321 .”
A variety of innovations feature prominently in this latest A320 Family final assembly line , with the aim of maximising product quality and efficiency , as well as establishing new standards for health , safety and sustainability . These innovations include digital production control using tablets and smartphones to reduce paper consumption , automated logistics for parts distribution and lightweight robots for joining sections .
Installed in the former A380 “ Jean-Luc Lagardère ” assembly building , the new FAL started initial operations at the end of 2022 with the delivery of the first fuselage sections . The roll-out of the first aircraft fully assembled in this facility , an A321 , is expected to take place by the end of this year . n
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workpiece utilisation and the avoidance of waste .”
The range of topics covered by Blechexpo / Schweisstec includes efficient process technologies for modern laser technology ; fully automated robotic sheet-metal processing machines ; precision tools and systems for punching , bending , braking and forming ; as well as innovative micro-waterjet cutting technologies .
A supplementary programme includes the presentation of the “ best Award 2023 ”, the “ Blechexpo Steel Convention 2023 ”, the “ futureSteel ” congress and an expert forum . The submission deadline for the “ best- Award 2023 ” has been extended to 15 September 2023 . To make your nomination , see : www . maschinenmarkt-awards . de / blechexpo n
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Tony Bowkett .
New Acting President for MTA
The UK ’ s Manufacturing Technologies Association ( MTA ) has appointed NIKKEN ’ s CEO and President , Tony Bowkett , as its latest Acting President . He aspires to promote and develop the MTA to engage and network with its members and associates “ to ensure that UK manufacturing technologies are recognised as critical parts of government economic strategy .”
“ With more than 30 years of experience as managing director and founder of NIKKEN Kosakusho Europe Ltd , Tony is responsible for the success of NIKKEN ’ s activities across Europe and beyond . This includes multiple subsidiary companies within the NIKKEN Europe Group , together operating in over 23 countries ,” NIKKEN told ISMR .
Tony Bowkett is a former financial director and vice president of the MTA . He succeeds outgoing MTA President , Dave Burley , and is a staunch advocate for the manufacturing technologies sector . He is a founder industrial partner and non-executive industrial Board member of Sheffield ’ s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre ( AMRC ) and has also held other advisory and voluntary roles .
“ It is a great honour and privilege to serve our association members , and we now proudly represent over 300 companies . Together , we generate an annual turnover of more than £ 2 billion and employ over 20,000 people collaborating with a vast UK supply chain , generating many millions in real wealth for the UK economy . Through our live MACH exhibition , education , training , legislation and standards teams , we aspire to reach all of the UK ’ s manufacturing industries . During my presidency , I would like to make it my mission to engage with our members and represent their best interests on local , national and international platforms ,” commented Tony Bowkett . n
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12 | ismr . net | ISMR September 2023