As the schedule ramps up to production of the COMAC 919, two first-tier Chinese suppliers have purchased fluid cell presses from Avure Technologies to reduce fabrication steps and dramatically decrease the cost of components they are manufacturing for the new single-aisle aircraft.

Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and Xizi Aviation will install the sheet metal forming presses in facilities at Shanghai and Zehjiang, China, respectively.

Shanghai Aircraft has chosen an advanced 68,000-ton fluid cell press, with a forming area of 1.4 x 4 m (55.1 x 157.5 inch), to extend its current capacity. Using ultra-high pressure to form a wide variety of complex shapes, Avure FlexformTM fluid cell presses are a cost-effective, versatile manufacturing solution, particularly when speed is critical in reducing time-to-market and maintaining global competitiveness. The new Avure system is being designed for 1000 bar pressure, a great asset when streamlining production to minimize the need for manual labor.

Xizi Aviation, a relative newcomer in the aerospace fabrication family, selected Avure's recently introduced model, the QFC 0.7x1.8-800, a 17,000-ton fluid cell press with a table size of 0.7 x 1.8 m (27.6 x 72 inch) and designed for 800 bar pressure. With a fast, 60-second process cycle, combined with low running costs, a space- saving small footprint, and easy installation directly at floor level, this press is a perfect match for Xizi's focus on fabricating sheet metal parts for the airframe structure.

“These state-of-the-art high-pressure fluid cell presses are well suited to meet today's imperative for less and less labor involvement, enabling the COMAC effort to compete with Western aircraft manufacturing methods,” comments Sture Olsson, Avure's Global Metal Forming Business Unit Director. “The introduction and combination of high-pressure, modern tool design, and careful fabrication logistics may reduce earlier required fabrication steps by as much as 50 percent, doubling the production capacity and cutting cost by as much as 80 percent.”

With 156 to 168 seats, the new C919 is a new short/medium range commercial jetliner aimed at meeting growing airline interest worldwide in single-aisle models. It is designed to compete with the Airbus A320-NEO and the Boeing 737-MAX. All new aircraft designs seek to boost fuel efficiency, enhance safety, increase passenger comfort, and improve manufacturing efficiencies.

The new Flexform press will become Shanghai Aircraft's second fluid cell press; its first was supplied by Avure (formerly under the brand name ASEA, then ABB) nearly 30 years ago, and is still operational at full processing parameters today.