RPI UK, a specialist in rotary measurement, has installed the first of two integrated rotor measurement and assembly platforms (iMAPs) at a major aero-engine MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility.

Jim Palmer, RPI’s sales manager, says: “It’s great news that both the OEM and their approved MRO facility are choosing to invest in iMAP, which has been independently verified to give significant operational improvements over traditional measurement methods. With world-class accuracy, our iMAP machine achieves higher levels of quality, while helping customers save money and resources by reducing inspection times and the need for costly rotor tear-downs due to inefficient rotor assembly optimisation.”
iMAP is proven to reduce inspection times by 90%, and improve gauge repeatability and reproducibility by up to 10 times. The technology is used by the MRO facility after the engines are dismantled, to inspect each individual section for cracks, wear and distortion. Measurements are taken by iMAP’s data acquisition software AccuScan, to check that the geometry of components meets original and regional board specifications as part of the stringent MRO process.
After the components have been approved, repaired or replaced, the iMAP is used for engine assembly to ensure alignment and concentricity are correct and balanced as each section is rebuilt.
AccuScan enables the measurement of up to 4000 data points on up to eight surfaces simultaneously, per revolution, thereby reducing process times to just two minutes. The improved inspection data is then used by the rotor stacking software to solve the mathematical problem of optimising the assembly of a multi-stage rotor to achieve minimum runout or unbalance. This technology is fundamental to ensuring the operational quality of an engine entering back into service, for optimal reduction in vibration, greater fuel efficiency and longer service intervals.
For further information www.rpiuk.com

The Carfulan Group has for the second year running been selected to appear in the London Stock Exchange’s ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report, a publication that celebrates the nation’s most outstanding SME businesses. To make the cut, companies are required to show consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years, significantly outperforming their industry peers.

Comprising OGP UK, SYS Systems, Zoller UK and ViciVision UK, the Carfulan Group provides a range of manufacturing-related technologies and employs around 50 people, a staffing increase of 400% since 2002. With more than 1500 machine supplied to the UK market, in excess of 700 customers and a turnover approaching £15m, the group specialises in multi-sensor inspection equipment, 3D-printing technology, tool pre-setting and inspection devices, and turned-part measurement solutions.
Chris Fulton, Carfulan Group’s managing director, says: “Demand and confidence in UK manufacturing continues to grow, and our intuitive products are helping businesses to move smoothly towards Industry 4.0, a new era of interconnectivity, automation and self-monitoring that will deliver smoother processes and more productive smart factories.
“In the past 18 months we’ve redoubled our efforts to reach out to new markets at industry shows, hosted our first ever ‘pop-up’ technology event in London, achieved ISO 9001:2015 accreditation across all companies and held the inaugural ‘Manufacturing Performance Network’ at our headquarters in Foston, attracting scores of engineering professionals from across the UK,” he adds.
David Schwimmer, CEO at London Stock Exchange Group, says: “SMEs drive growth, innovation and job creation, and are the lifeblood of the British economy. We believe that supporting the growth of these businesses is critical to the UK economy and the creation of a society that works for everyone.”
For further information www.carfulan.com