Aerospace, Aeronautical & Aviation

Lifting & Handling in the Aerospace, Aeronautical & Aviation Industry:

It has been reported that around 1/3 of injuries at work (that are reported), are caused by employees carrying out lifting and handling activities incorrectly and without an aid such as…

• Lifting items that are too heavy
• Reaching and stretching overhead
• Twisting and bending
• Pushing or pulling heavy loads
• Working awkwardly
• Repetitive tasks causing repetitive strain

To identify areas where employees might be at risk, we recommend carrying out an internal risk assessment in your aerospace manufacturing facility whether you do this yourselves or have an external company such as ourselves come to site for an impartial analysis. Once these areas of concern have been identified, you can then begin conversations on what lifting solutions can significantly improve these operations and processes to help keep your employees safe and your manufacturing area running at its optimum.

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Unique Challenges & Advanced Handling’s Solutions:

Alongside this and due to the nature of the industry, it is integral that the Aerospace industry abides by not just lifting and handling rules but also, the rules and regulations of the industry which allows for zero flexibility when it comes to safety, quality and reliability as there are no second chances.

Component Handling & Manipulating:

From goods in, through to testing, at multiple times throughout manufacturing individual components and parts will need to be lifted and manoeuvred into place whether to build a bigger part or as part of the end structure. These parts could range from something as small as a light to something such as a window, a propeller, or a turbine worth millions of pounds.

Ensuring that when the part is being lifted and manipulated into place, there is no risk of injury to the employee or damage to the parts themselves is so important to the industry. Advanced Handling specialises in designing, manufacturing, and installing lifting solutions for exactly these purposes including solutions such as:

Scissor Lift Table: Whether you use a mobile table for transporting components around assembly bays or the stores, or alternatively, use a static table as an adjustable working platform or maintenance platform, a scissor lift table could be the basis of your perfect lifting, handling and manoeuvring solution.

Overhead Lifting: Advanced Handling’s Movomech Overhead Lifting Solutions are flexible, modular, ergonomic configurations to achieve effortless and safe lifting turning two-person or more processes, into one-person tasks. Our lifting, handling, and manipulating solutions and suited applications include (but is definitely not limited to).

• Pneumatic Gripper Tools – Perfect for lifting welded frames, custom components, tools, seat frames, cylinder heads, machine parts and more.
• Mechanical Grippers – Ideal for engine blocks.
• Mechcrane jib crane and/or chain hoist – Suitable as part of the production line to help lift & lower heavier objects with control.
• Vacuum Lifters – Used for lifting sheets and panels of material with ease and with full control which eliminates the risk of damage to the part/product.

All these overhead solutions can be mounted on a wall, floor mounted, ceiling mounted, or rail mounted which provides the option for ultimate flexibility in line with the nature of the aerospace and aeronautical engineering industry.

Engine or Parts Testing:

Advanced Handling has supplied lifting aids for use in aeronautical and aerospace test facilities for applications such as:

• Testing wings in wind tunnels
• Engine testing
• Maintenance platforms

Each one of these solutions was completely custom made with Advanced Handling Ltd working closely with the end-user throughout the project. Advanced Handling both design and manufacture our solutions in-house, in our 40,000sqft manufacturing site, in Peterborough, the UK. This close-knit working environment allows us the flexibility and capabilities to take on such large and bespoke projects and our experience working in complex industries such as Aerospace and Aeronautics makes us the perfect project partner. Explore our bespoke solution process from design to commissioning here.

Are you undertaking a new research project soon? Or, building a new test site/facility? If so and you need advice on how to lift, handle or manipulate something whether an engine, a wing, a turbine, or a propeller, speak to the team and we’d be happy to help.

Hear from our Aerospace & Aeronautical Customers:

Advanced Handling has vast amounts of experience working in the aerospace and aeronautical industry working with some of the largest Aerospace and Aeronautical companies in the world including The Aircraft Research Association, Rolls Royce, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, CueSim and Cobham.

• CueSim: Bespoke three-way functionality scissor lift designed and manufactured by Advanced Handling improves everyday operations for CueSim, helicopter simulator manufacturer.
• Cobham: Advanced Handling Mezzanine Goods Lift improves employee safety & minimises the risk of goods damage for the market-leading aeronautical manufacturer.
• ARA Aircraft Research Association: Advanced Handling Ltd design and manufacture a world-first custom scissor lift tale to move wing into their test wind tunnel & rotate 90°. Even NASA failed!

Contact the Team:

If you’re working on a project in the aeronautical, aviation or aerospace industry or want to eliminate manual handling and creating a safer, more efficient working environment, contact the team to arrange a site visit so we can experience first-hand your unique challenges and advise you as to how our lifting solutions can help you and your team.