Canada's Airbus Helicopters Composite Center caters to global demands for Airbus helicopter components
Airbus Helicopters' Composites Shop Center of Excellence in Fort Erie, Canada, plays a significant role in the production of nearly every Airbus helicopter built globally today. This facility, situated in Ontario, specializes in the manufacturing and repair of composite parts for Airbus Helicopters.
The process begins in the cutting room, where technicians prepare various pre-impregnated kits for the composite manufacturing process. A group of technicians then lay up specific materials in molds, followed by the addition of honeycomb core and additional plies of material.
The composite parts manufactured in Fort Erie undergo a series of crucial steps before they reach assembly. They are cured, inspected, trimmed, and then sent to the paint department for preparation before delivery. Approximately 370 composite parts move through this process each month.
The Composite Department at the Fort Erie facility accounts for nearly half of the 138,000 square foot production site. The layup process requires high attention to detail and great dexterity, ensuring the production of efficient and reliable helicopters.
Krista Bauer, the leader of the Composite Lay-up department, has a history of working in various roles within the department. She started as a Layup Technician in 2001 and became a Supervisor in 2012. Bauer states that the work her team does is essential for creating these helicopters, and that their focus is important because their helicopters save lives.
Airbus is considered a great place to work by Bauer, due to the close-knit team environment and opportunities for professional development, such as trips to plants in France and Germany. The Composite lay-up department in Fort Erie is composed of a diverse team of 33 individuals, 73% of whom are female.
The core cutting team cuts the honeycomb by hand for specific kits in the Composites Center. The composite parts manufactured in the Fort Erie facility make their way to eight different helicopter types: H125, H130, H135, H145, H155, H160, H215, and H225. These models are produced with composite components that contribute to weight reduction, increased durability, and improved performance.
Bauer emphasizes that her team takes pride in manufacturing parts that are used in helicopters that support customers worldwide. The Fort Erie facility's role as a "Composites Shop Center of Excellence" underscores its involvement in advanced composite manufacturing critical to these Airbus Helicopters models. This includes structural components such as rotor blades, fairings, and fuselage sections that leverage composite materials to meet Airbus's stringent performance and safety standards.
[1] Airbus Helicopters [2] Airbus Helicopters Fort Erie [4] Airbus Helicopters Composites
- The layup process in Airbus Helicopters' Composites Department at the Fort Erie facility, led by Krista Bauer, is crucial for the production of efficient and reliable helicopters, contributing to weight reduction, increased durability, and improved performance.
- The composite parts manufactured at Airbus Helicopters Fort Erie make their way to eight different helicopter types, including H125, H130, H135, H145, H155, H160, H215, and H225, highlighting the facility's role as a "Composites Shop Center of Excellence" in advanced composite manufacturing for Airbus Helicopters.
- The energy and resources invested in the manufacturing and repair of composite parts at Airbus Helicopters' Composites Shop Center of Excellence in Fort Erie extend beyond the facility, touching multiple industries such as health-and-wellness, women's health, finance, technology, and the broader manufacturing industry, as these helicopters save lives worldwide.
