Kiekens concludes agreement with Airbus to supply advanced dust extraction system for drilling operations
Almelo/Toulouse, October 29, 2024 - Kiekens, a specialist in industrial dust extraction and air filtration, has further expanded its existing supply agreement with Airbus, one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers. Since 2019, the company from Almelo has been supplying Airbus with advanced extraction systems, which ensure a clean and safe working environment at production locations in France. The cooperation will be expanded with the delivery of a high-end installation that can simultaneously extract dust and aluminum chips from robotic drilling operations at sixty workstations.
The systems of Kiekens, supplied by Kiekens SNP2i's French partner, prevents the spread of dust and aluminum chips in Airbus workshops. On the one hand, this is crucial for a clean and healthy working environment, and, on the other hand, ensures production conditions that meet the high safety requirements for the production of Airbus aircraft. Dust and aluminum particles that remain in aircraft hulls, for example, interfere with small allowable tolerances, which pose a risk to product safety. Clean air in the workshop environment therefore has a direct impact on the product quality of Airbus aircraft.
Kiekens' new extraction system enables Airbus to simultaneously extract dust and aluminum chips from sixty robotic drills. Each drill is equipped with a flexible hose that feeds the particles to a central line. From there, the extracted air passes through a filter, after which the highly filtered air is removed to the outside.
More energy efficient
According to Jeroen Roeleven, CEO of Kiekens, the new system is significantly more energy efficient than previous models. “Where traditional extraction systems are constantly running at full power, regardless of the number of drills used, our new machine has a variable flow rate. This means that the suction power is automatically adjusted to the number of operational machines, saving up to 60 percent in energy consumption,” says Roeleven. This energy saving not only leads to a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), but also contributes to sustainability, through a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. This is particularly relevant in light of increasingly stringent European legislation, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Airbus chose Kiekens partly because of their ability to identify potential bottlenecks and provide customized solutions. With more than 110 years of experience and in-house design and production processes, customized system designs can be executed and implemented quickly and flexibly. Roeleven: “Airbus's choice for Kiekens underlines our reputation as a supplier of high-quality customized systems. We understand that safety and precision are the top priority in the aviation sector. Our in-depth technical expertise enables us to develop solutions that perfectly meet the needs of our customers. We are proud to contribute to the quality and safety of Airbus production processes with our technology.”
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About Kiekens
Kiekens, founded in 1907, has been providing customized solutions for industrial air quality in various sectors, such as defense, aviation and the food industry, for 115 years. Kiekens combines technical expertise with problem solving skills and personal involvement, resulting in efficient, sustainable and user-friendly solutions. All parts are produced in the Netherlands, which guarantees both quality and continuity. In addition, local production contributes significantly to reducing Kiekens' ecological footprint. The company designs, installs and maintains dedusting solutions for customers worldwide. Kiekens provides solutions to sectors such as food, metalworking, plastics & chemicals, animal feed, storage & transshipment, recycling, ATEX, defense and aviation. In addition to Airbus, Kiekens' clientele also includes Dassaultaviation and GKN Fokker Aerospace.
Website: www.kiekens.com
