Challenges in transportation and movement
Throughout a staged production process, sub-assemblies increase in weight and size as more materials and sections are added, presenting a challenge when it comes to moving them through the production flow.
Depending on the parts being moved, transportation of heavier sections is often achieved through the use of overhead cranes, forklift trucks or large transfer trolleys. For smaller parts and sections, some facilities rely on manpower and manual handling to manoeuvre sections through production stages.
Traditional transportation methods present several challenges for aerospace manufacturers, whether in the movement of fuselage sub-assemblies or the final assembly stages of aircraft.
The benefits of staged, flowline production systems are often disrupted by downtime waiting for a licensed forklift driver to mobilise heavy loads. This can cause bottlenecks in flowline systems and reduce operational efficiency.
Similarly, relying on overhead cranes for sub-assembly transfers can also cause delays and, where multiple cranes are installed, an overlap of routes can lead to wasted time in waiting for other cranes to clear an area. Overhead cranes can also restrict production layout due to their fixed design and mechanical issues can cause severe delays in the production process.
Finally, remote-controlled transfer trolleys are typically a cumbersome option, which can be difficult to precisely position within aerospace manufacturing environments. This, coupled with the risk of complete bottlenecks in the event of a breakdown, is leading many manufacturers towards a more modular solution in industrial electric tugs.
Powerful, lean and flexible solutions – Industrial electric tugs and tows
Aerospace electric tugs offer an alternative to traditional aerospace material handling methods and deliver considerable efficiency gains in the form of time savings, flexibility, and process improvement for aerospace manufacturers.
Suitably powered to move even the heaviest loads within the aerospace industry, our industrial electric tugs enable a single operator to carefully position, and manoeuvre loads of over 30,000kg.
Manufacturers need aerospace handling solutions that help support robust and lean production processes. With a license-free operation, industrial electric tugs remove bottlenecks and any downtime in waiting for licensed forklift drivers or crane operatives, whilst also providing a safer alternative for use in congested areas. Where transportation was previously carried out manually, electric tugs mean staff are freed up to carry out value-adding activities and critical production tasks.
With a design focused on scalability, manufacturers can utilise industrial electric tugs and tows on a range of applications as required. Working alongside a flowline system, electric tugs deliver flexibility and allow manufacturers within the aerospace industry to scale production up or down as needed.
