Asco is active in regional, national and European Research & Innovation (R&I) activities. These activities are linked to forward-looking technologies for complex lightweight components and aerostructures. Our R&I subjects are identified and executed with the aviation community towards the transition into net-zero carbon flight by 2050 of commercial aviation and the next generation combat aircraft systems. We do this by leveraging our multi-material know-how, our one-stop-shop concept in machining and surface treatments, and our build-to-spec expertise.
Our R&I strategy is focused on TRL3 to TRL6 developments across product, process and transversal technologies. Product innovations include, amongst others, wing movables and aerostructures, and fuselage aerostructures. Research in Asco’s core process is performed in metallic machining, assembly, inspection and surface treatments. Additional investigation is conducted in strategic processes such as out-of-autoclave composite processes. Within all R&I product and process subjects, important innovation enablers such as digitization, automation, sustainability and human-centered topics are also tackled.
For more then 25 years, our Design and Stress Engineers have worked on new aircraft technology concepts; either on-site, or integrated in the customer’s design teams (“plateau”) supporting all major commercial platforms. Our engineers are responsible for the concept and detailed design, including verification tests, final definition release and review authorization of 3D Models in media such CATIA and 3DExperience.
We continue to build upon our established worldwide market position in high lift devices. We have the know-how in the deployment mechanisms and support systems for the movable leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps in order to improve the aerodynamics of an aircraft, resulting in improved fuel economy and the overall ecological footprint. This is why we are the preferred partner for the design and manufacturing of enhanced lift and landing solutions for most of the world’s commercial aircraft fleet.
Based on our vast experience in the machining of complex structural components, the manufacturing engineering defines the means and methods for the industrialization of new products and continuous production improvement projects. It ensures a seamless link between the customers’ requirements, our engineering and our production facilities. We develop manufacturing processes which deliver consistently on quality whilst optimizing the manufacturing cost, allowing us to remain competitive in an ever more competitive marketplace.
The manufacturing engineering department is made up of multi-disciplinary teams of manufacturing engineers, process engineers , fixture designers and NC programmers. They work on:
We are in an highly technical environment, using cutting edge software, equipment and technologies to retain our competitive position in the market.
Our global production facilities in Belgium, Germany, the USA and Canada reflect our strategy. We envision our customers’ current and future expectations while developing mutually beneficial business relationships. In order to fulfill these expectations all of our industrial sites are equipped with state-of-the-art production machinery. So, that we can produce ever tighter product tolerances on highly complex components in a variety of materials. We are vertically integrated with modern facilities in surface treatment in Belgium and the US, and sub-assembly lines at all sites to fulfill our customers’ process requirements.
Our facilities include fully integrated MES , full machine parameter monitoring and integrated process control. Within our machine cells, we have integrated combined robotization and operator precision mounting and manipulation.
Our focus is on enhancing and upgrading capacity, productivity, quality and efficiency using the newest machines. To this end we continuously reinvest in our production facilities and in our operators and engineers.
We enable our team to independently organize processes and initiate cost & quality improvements under the guidance of skilled and highly experienced project managers.
We manage the supply chain and our supplier base carefully to ensure a reliable route to our production sites and to maintain competitiveness of our core products. Our strategic focus is on:
We select our suppliers, evaluate them against these criteria and aim to build up long-term stable relationships. The supplier development programs have exacting standards where continuous improvement in our supplier performance is expected.
We have already established a supply and procurement base in the West and are currently extending our supplier base into low cost environments (LCC’s).
