Airbus has selected Flow International Corporation as the supplier of multiple Composite Machining Center (CMC) abrasive waterjet and routing machine tool systems.
Finalised in June, Airbus will use Flow's CMC waterjet systems throughout all its plants across Europe to cut and trim the wings, fuselage, wing spars, keel beam, and other parts on the A350 XWB, which is Airbus' response to market demand for a medium capacity long range wide-body family.
The machines will be built and installed over the next 18 to 24 months for use in manufacturing the new Airbus A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) aircraft.
The A350 XWB uses more than 60 per cent new materials in the aircraft's airframe, all chosen for their superior weight and strength properties. Flow's waterjets lead the industry in cutting these state-of-the-art carbon-fibre materials, it is claimed.
Airbus, which already has several Flow waterjet systems in production, awarded the entire order to Flow based on the company's long history and demonstrated leadership developing and supporting abrasive waterjet cutting systems for major composites programs.
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