Aero Norway $1.5 million investment in state-of-the-art high speed grinder

Aero Norway has invested $1.5 million in a new state-of-the-art high speed grinder sustaining its position as a leading full service engine MRO. The purchase of this specialist machine will ensure stable and efficient turn-around times are maintained and 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 $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,” says 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,” says 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 workscope 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.

In September 2020 Aero Norway will be hosting the annual Aero Engines Europe Conference in Stavanger where it will be showcasing its full capabilities via a comprehensive facility tour.