For Highest Quality and Safety Standards - Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited (Birmingham/GB) Again Decides for Steinbichler Intact® Shearography Tire Tester
With 96 years expertise in aircraft tire manufacturing and retreading, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited (DATL) undoubtedly know how to provide their customers with premium-quality products and a flexible service totally focused on their customer´s individual needs. The independent company located in Birmingham, GB, declares that product quality, and thus, safety is of paramount importance for their business. Having one of the world´s most sophisticated in-house test facilities, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited achieves highest performance levels and has full EASA, FAA-FAR 145 retreading and ISO9001 approvals. Also, they were one of the first aircraft component manufacturers to get JAR21 certification (sub part G Production Organisation Approval and sub part J Design).
A major part in the company´s quality control processes is represented by the Intact shearography tyre testing systems from Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH who is a worldwide leading supplier of optical measuring and sensor technology. Dunlop uses a Steinbichler Intact 1600-AC system since 2002, this effective and high-end tyre test machine has become an indispensable tool for them to inspect the tire carcasses going to be retreaded. With its top hardware and software features, the Intact system perfectly meets the requirements to achieve and maintain the required superior quality and safety levels – due to the fact that an aircraft tyre is typically retreaded up to 8 times, precise and unambiguous test results are mandatory. At Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited, each retreaded tyre undergoes a thorough inspection, so the high reliability of the test system was one of the key qualifying criteria for the purchase of the second Intact system which is part of an investment program for maximum productivity at the 40,000 square meter manufacturing plant.
The company relies heavily on the dependability of the Intact systems. Working in parallel to the existing test system, the second machine has been in operation since August 2006 inline with maintaining planned output growth and pre-process inspection . "Meaning, no additional training or instructions for the second machine was necessary for our staff", says Alan Gleadhill, Business Performance and Process Controller at DATL - "With the second machine, having commonality in all facets of operation we are extremely flexible because the operators can easily change from one machine to the other."
Both systems feature the fastest inspection cycle time available on the market and an easy operation leading to a high testing productivity and thus, economic advantages. Furthermore, DATL again has been convinced by the excellent Steinbichler service. "We at DATL are focused on exceptional product quality and safety standards. Using the Steinbichler Intact tyre inspection systems, we employ the most advanced technology which additionally increases our productivity.", says Alan Gleadhill.
