The EPD50 provides support in the production of aircraft wings

Exechon supplies mobile, computer-controlled processing machines to aircraft manufacturers. These CNC machines are so large that they are delivered to the customer together with a special means of transport. PTB developed the EPD50 pallet truck especially for this purpose. PTB has already supplied several of these trucks to Exechon.

Production of aircraft wings

Aircraft manufacturers drill thousands of holes in an aircraft wing in an extremely precise manner in order to attach the various parts together with screws and rivets. These are enormous wings for, for example, an Airbus A380 or a Boeing 747.

This work is carried out at aircraft manufacturers by CNC machines from Exechon, an internationally operating subsidiary of aircraft manufacturer Lockheed.

Accurate positioning

In order to position the CNC machine near the wing to be machined, a means of transport that could be maneuvered extremely accurately was required. PTB developed the DP50 for this purpose. This pallet truck is designed in such a way that it can pick up the five-ton CNC machine and position it with millimeter accuracy.

Drawbar steering

The EPD50 from PTB Special Products has a lifting capacity of five tons and is a drawbar-controlled pedestrian machine with two meter long forks. The pallet truck can be controlled very precisely. The load center of the machine is 1,600 mm from the fork heel.

Optimize machining process

The functionalities of the pallet truck are precisely tailored to Exechon's wishes. The company supplies the CNC machines to the customer together with the EDP50. This way, Exechon can supply the machines completely and optimize the machining process at the aircraft manufacturer.

National Manufacturing Institute

The pallet truck now delivered is used in combination with an Exechon CNC machine at the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland, part of the Strathclyde Technical University in Refrewshire.