Liebherr Aerospace
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Company type | Société Anonyme |
---|---|
Industry | Aerospace and Transportation Systems |
Founded | 1960; 64 years ago (1960) |
Headquarters | Toulouse |
Products | In the aerospace sector: flight control systems, landing gears, integrated air management systems, bleed air systems, wing anti ice etc. In the transportation sector: air conditioning systems, actuation and power supply systems for all kind of rail cars |
Revenue | €1.4 billion in 2019 (€1.3bn in 2016)[1] |
Number of employees | ![]() |
Website | www |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/UsineLiebherrToulouse.jpg/220px-UsineLiebherrToulouse.jpg)
Liebherr-Aerospace is the aerospace equipment manufacturing division of Liebherr.[3][4][5] The company is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM);[6] its low visibility in the minds of end consumers can be attributed to the OEM[1] nature of all its operations.
Liebherr-Aerospace contributed €1.3 billion ($1.5bn)[1] to total Liebherr group sales of €9 billion in 2016. This represented an increase of nearly 5% in turnover for the division.[1] The division was reported to be employing around 5400[7][1] people all over the world. It has two primary production and assembly centres: Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse[4][1] and Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg.[4][8][1][9]
Some of the other sites include: Liebherr-Aerospace Saline, Michigan, U.S., Liebherr-Aerospace Singapore,[10] Liebherr-Aerospace Dubai, U.A.E, Liebherr-Aerospace Laval, Canada,[11] Liebherr-Aerospace Maintenance centre, Shanghai,[10] Liebherr-Aerospace, Bangalore, India,[12] Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse, Campsas site, Liebherr-Aerospace Brasil, Guaratingueta, Liebherr-Aerospace Nizhny Novgorod (Russia).[13]
The Lindenberg and Toulouse centres of Liebherr have been recognized by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)[14] as a Design Organization Approval (DOA) certified company.[15] This certification encompasses: landing gear systems, air management systems, and flight control actuation systems.
Production and other activities
Liebherr-Aerospace supplies aircraft flight control[16][17] and actuation systems,[18] landing gear,[2][19] air management systems[6][20][21] (bleed air systems,[20] wing anti ice, etc.), on-board electronics as well as gears and gearboxes for the aerospace industry. These systems are deployed in wide-bodied aircraft, single aisle and regional aircraft, business jets, combat aircraft, military transport aircraft, military training aircraft, civil helicopters and combat helicopters.
Being in Toulouse, Liebherr-Aerospace benefits from being in close proximity to the base of operations of one of their most important customers, Airbus.
Apart from manufacturing activities Liebherr-Aerospace also services and overhauls[22][8] in-service components for their customers (Airlines etc.). It also provides training courses for mechanics, engineers and other relevant personnel who work with any Aircraft which carries Liebherr products.
USM – Used Serviceable Materials
On 16 July 2018, it was reported that Liebherr-Aerospace was expanding its services in a new direction[23] by setting up a global network for USM parts to be managed from their Dubai offices. They plan to source own products and systems from retired aircraft, perform repairs if necessary and redistribute and sell through their network. The serviced parts will be released with appropriate airworthiness[23] certifications and will come with a "Repaired by Liebherr"[24] tag instead of a "New" tag. It is reported that their initial focus will be on Airbus fleets and families with a subsequent expansion. The target Customers are those with mature fleets, who will be requiring OEM quality parts at lower operation costs.[25][23]
Research and development
The firm was reported to have invested in 2017 about €70 million ($82m) in R&D: more than 17% of revenue.[1]
B777X Wingtips
One of the most recent developments is the design of folding wingtips[24][26] which are being implemented on the Boeing 777X.[27][28] Due to its much larger wingspan the 777X could not be classified in the same category as the B777. With the folding wingtips 777X will still be in the same wingspan category as the B777. For take-off, the wing tips will be unfolded back into the horizontal position, providing the benefit of an extended span to increase fuel efficiency. The folding wing[29] tip system[30] is the first of its kind in commercial aviation.[17]
3D Printing and Fuel Cells
The firm uses 3D printing technology to manufacture some of their products.[31] The firm has also invested in developing tools and parts of their products using titanium because of the benefits it offers.[32] The firm is working on developing fuel cells along with their partners General Motors. Liebherr is interested in the use of fuel cells to replace APU's [33][34][35] (auxiliary power unit) on conventional aircraft, greatly reducing emissions. GM[36] on the other hand is aiming to develop a primary source of energy for electric cars.[34]
Hyperloop
Liebherr-Aerospace partnered with TransPod[37] for the research, development, and production of new cabin and vehicle thermal systems designed specifically for TransPod’s hyperloop system to ensure safety, efficiency, and passenger comfort.[37]
Presence at recent events
Liebherr-Aerospace is among the exhibitors at ILA Berlin Air Show.[39][40][41] and was present in the latest edition of the Farnborough Air Show as well.[28]
Incidents
On 18 July 2018, an explosion was reported at Liebherr-Aerospace's Toulouse site. According to news reports, a valve on a high pressure air circulation system on the shop floor failed due to undetermined reasons.[42] According to one of the reports, the explosion of the high pressure air lines was heard kilometres away.[43] The accident took place during work hours, around 2 PM.[44] The pressure of the high pressure line has been reported to be around 25 Bars, which is 25 times the normal atmospheric pressure. News agencies report that 39 employees were treated on site by emergency services and the in-house medical teams. Around 12 employees who were in immediate vicinity were affected and had respiratory and hearing problems, Three of them were hospitalised at the Toulouse Purpan Hospital.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Air_conditioning_pack_of_Comac_C919_%286%29.jpg/200px-Air_conditioning_pack_of_Comac_C919_%286%29.jpg)
Customers
The direct customers for Liebherr Aerospace are the air frame manufacturers as listed below, but end customers like Airlines also deal directly with Liebherr Aerospace for maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Airbus[16][45]
- Airbus Helicopters[46]
- Airbus Defense
- Bombardier[47][48]
- ATR
- Embraer[22]
- Boeing[49]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Air_conditioning_pack_of_Comac_C919_%285%29.jpg/200px-Air_conditioning_pack_of_Comac_C919_%285%29.jpg)
- COMAC[50][51][52]
- Dassault Aviation
- Agusta Westland
- Irkut Corporation[53]
- Antonov[54][55][21]
- Sukhoi
- Rolls-Royce
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Arabian Aerospace – Smiles ahead – that's the Liebherr motto". www.arabianaerospace.aero. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ a b "First Airbus A350 XWB nose landing gear installed in test facility – Aviation-News FLUG REVUE". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Hamburg Aviation: Liebherr-Aerospace Opens New Liaison Office in Hamburg". www.hamburg-aviation.de. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ a b c "Liebherr: Family Owned Company With Worldwide Impact". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace Participating for the First Time at Aero India. | Info Aéro Québec". Info Aéro Québec. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ a b "Global Air Management Systems Market 2018 Top Players :Liebherr, Meggitt, United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Zodiac Aerospace, Rockwell Collins". Paris Ledger. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace Exhibits at ILA Berlin 2018". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ a b "Liebherr-Aerospace Signs Agreement on E-Jet 175 and 195 Landing Gear Overhaul with Flybe". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace präsentiert sich auf Fachmesse in Berlin – Lindau / Bodenseeregion – B4B Schwaben" (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ a b "Liebherr-Aerospace doubles size of Shanghai maintenance centre". Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace inaugurates Canadian landing gear assembly – Aerospace Manufacturing and Design". Aerospace Manufacturing and Design. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace's strategic steps in India". Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse Opens New Manufacturing Building at its Campsas Site". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Can you explain the process to obtain a design organisation approval (DOA)? | EASA". EASA. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH Receives DOA Certification". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ a b "2007-08-26 – News in brief: News in Brief". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ a b "Boeing: 777X Wing Safety". Boeing 777X Reveal. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "2007-08-26 – News in brief: News in Brief". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace To Overhaul Landing Gears On Flybe-Operated E-Jets". MRO Network. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ a b "Liebherr to Supply Engine Bleed Air System for the Airbus A330neo". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ a b "An-132 Air management systems".
- ^ a b "Liebherr-Aerospace To Overhaul Landing Gears On Flybe-Operated E-Jets". MRO Network. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ a b c "USM by Liebherr: An Additional Material Service Solution". AviationPros.com. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ^ a b "Liebherr Aerospace on all fronts". Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace Getting into USM". MRO Network. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ^ "Liebherr fournira le dispositif de repliage d'aile du 777X – Aerobuzz". Aerobuzz (in French). 2015-04-29. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Switzerland : Third Contract for Boeing S 777X: Liebherr-Aerospace to Supply High-Lift Actuators". 2015-09-24. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ a b "Liebherr-Aerospace Helps Lift Boeing 777X". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
- ^ "La FAA définit les règles de certification pour l'extrémité d'aile mobile du 777X – Aerobuzz". Aerobuzz (in French). 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Liebherr liefert Klappflügel für die Boeing 777X". aero.de (in German). 2015-04-29. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ Davies, Sam (2017-10-24). "Liebherr Aerospace achieves 35% weight reduction of aviation component with EOS metal 3D printing technology". TCT Magazine. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace: titanium components for Airbus A350". Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "Liebherr, GM To Develop Fuel Cell-Based APU". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ a b "Aero and Auto Come Together On Fuel-Cell APU". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Liebherr et GM s'engagent dans la mise en oeuvre d'une pile à combustible APU – Aerobuzz". Aerobuzz (in French). 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "Aerospace Industry Could Hold Future To GM's Fuel Cell Technology". GM Authority. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ a b Inc., TransPod. "TransPod Partners with Liebherr-Aerospace to Develop Next-generation Thermal Management Technology for Hyperloop". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
{{cite news}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Germany : Liebherr-Aerospace: Successful ILA Berlin 2018". 2018-05-08. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Germany : Liebherr-Aerospace: Successful ILA Berlin 2018". 2018-05-08. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace à ILA Berlin 2018 – AeroMorning.com". AeroMorning.com (in French). 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace at ILA Berlin 2018 Info Aéro Québec". Info Aéro Québec. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Toulouse : explosion chez un sous-traitant d'Airbus, plusieurs personnes blessées" (in French). Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Explosion d'une conduite d'air comprimé à Liebherr Aerospace". ladepeche.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "3 blessés dans une explosion chez un sous-traitant d'Airbus à Toulouse". France 3 Occitanie (in French). Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "11.2.2008 – LH Technik wartet DLR A320: Forschungs-A320 des DLR wird bei LH Technik gewartet". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Liebherr-Aerospace receives order for H160 heating valves – Vertical Magazine". Vertical Magazine. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ^ "News Update 22 June 2009 – News in Brief – Aviation-News FLUG REVUE". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "ILA 2014: Fahrwerksysteme der CSeries von Liebherr-Aerospace". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Boeing 747-8 Details: Boeing 747-8". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "COMAC C919: Chinas neuer Zweistrahler". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Hubschrauber AVIC AC312C und AVIC AC312E: Liebherr liefert Kabinenluft-Managementsysteme an China". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "PICTURES: Comac confident of year-end roll-out for C919". Flightglobal.com. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "News Update 24 August 2009 – News in Brief – Aviation-News FLUG REVUE". FLUG REVUE (in German). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ "Ukrainian airframer Antonov commences An-132D flight tests – Russian aviation news". Russian Aviation Insider. 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "US firm to design new windshields for Ukraine's Antonov An-132 transport – Russian aviation news". Russian Aviation Insider. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-29.