2009
Walloon know-hows combine and export: Techspace Aero calls on Les Ateliers de la Meuse for an unprecedented order
Techspace Aero’s division specialising in aircraft engine test benches is currently
producing a Research & Development facility intended to test large components of civil
and military turbojets on behalf of a major European aerospace customer based in Berlin.
One of the important elements of this quite unprecedented test bench is a large vessel
capable of performing vacuum tests and absorbing high shocks loads, corresponding
to engine tests. Whereas few companies are capable of producing such equipment,
Techspace Aero has called on the services of a provider both experienced and nearby:
Les Ateliers de la Meuse (ALM) which has several references to its credit in the field of
vacuum vessels for space applications and heavy mechanical achievements.
Techspace Aero entrusted ALM with the study, realisation and the tests of the vessel and
its components. The overall contract is worth € 5 m. Bill Collin, ALM’s Managing Director
explains: “We called on the services of our sister company AMOS to design the vacuum
chamber, internal shock absorbers and pressure control (The total weight is over 170
tonnes). It is a particularly difficult project because we had very little time between the end
of the studies and delivery on site. ALM’s division in Seraing carried out the machining
of large parts of several metres in diameter. The supply of the elements, machining,
assembly and test operations were performed in a record time of 6 months”.
As far as Techspace Aero is concerned, this turnkey facility has been mobilising
the manpower of no less than 20 engineers and technicians assisted by about ten
subcontractors since 2008. “This latest achievement represents an additional visiting
card to assert the world leadership of our test bench engineering activity. Whenever it is
possible, Techspace Aero gives priority to local partners to accomplish its projects and its
products which are exported throughout the world,” Philippe Schleicher, Techspace Aero’s
Chief Executive Officer, concludes.
The vessel left the banks of the Meuse on 8 December 2009 to travel to Berlin. The
next months will see further onsite cooperation between Techspace Aero’s and its
subcontractors’ teams to achieve final acceptance of the bench scheduled for June 2010.
About Techspace Aero
Partner to the world’s major engine manufacturers, Techspace Aero designs, develops and
produces modules, equipment and test benches for aeronautical and space engines. Thanks to
its high-tech products, Techspace Aero contributes to the success of Airbus (A320, A330, A340,
A380, A400M), Boeing (B737, B747, B767, B777, B787), Embraer (190) and many other aircraft.
A SAFRAN Group company (F- 56% of capital), Techspace Aero’s other shareholders are the
Walloon Region (B- 31 %), Pratt & Whitney (USA-11%) and the Federal Investment Company
(B-2%). The company achieved turnover of EUR 337 million in 2008, 99.7% of which was for the
export market, with a 1,250 strong workforce.
About Les Ateliers de la Meuse
Ateliers de la Meuse is a large-scale machining and mechanical engineering company in the
field of energy (civil nuclear, power plants, turbines, etc.) and heavy scientific equipment (space,
astronomy, iron and steel industry, defence, etc.).
Contact: Fred Limbort – tel: 04 2520030 – mobile: 0475 71 99 33 – fred.limbort@alm.be
Contact: Joëlle Wathelet – tel.: 04 278 87 28 – mobile: 0486 94 84 15 – jwathele@techspace- aero.be Techspace Aero Route de Liers 121 4041 Herstal – Belgium www.techspace-aero.be Atelier de la Meuse Rue Ernest Solvay, 107 4000 Liège - Belgium www.alm.be
