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The MRO Lab

Advancing engine maintenance

The MRO Lab

Advancing engine maintenance

Our engine support teams are actively involved in The MRO Lab, an innovation program run by AFI KLM E&M throughout its network of sites and subsidiaries. Within this framework, we regularly develop new processes, tools and repairs to optimize our support services and integrate the latest advances in digital solutions as well as next-gen carbon and composite materials. We also contribute to inventing the future of maintenance by testing and industrializing cutting-edge technologies: artificial intelligence, augmented reality, 3D printing, robotics and more.

Repair development

Our "repair rather than replace, whenever possible" mindset lies at the heart of the maintenance model developed by AFI KLM E&M. This approach contributes to the objective of optimizing the cost of ownership of your assets. It is underpinned by a continuous drive to develop new repairs on high-value modules and components, such as combustion chambers. Our centers of excellence in the Paris region and Amsterdam capitalize on years of experience and significant investment in new technologies: plasma, non-destructive testing, cold metal transfer (CMT), electron-beam welding, robotic arms and more. Thanks to these "factories of the future”, AFI KLM E&M is one of the few MROs in the world able to carry out certain repairs, thereby relieving customers of the need to invest in spare modules and parts.

Innovation examples

  • In 2023, AFI KLM E&M ran the first ever CFM56 engine test with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): in partnership with CFM International and the SAF supplier Neste, the test was performed in our Amsterdam facility on a CFM56-7B using 12,810 liters of fuel made from used cooking oils and other recycled raw organic materials. Compared to fossil jet fuel, SAF could avoid at least 75% of an engine’s total lifecycle CO2 emissions.
  • Robocot: an automatic measuring tool equipped with two telemetric lasers placed on an air-cooled carbon composite holder. Designed, assembled and programmed in-house, this “cobot” allows for ultra-precise measurement of wear and tear on TCF module panels.
  • Robobrosse (“robo-brush”): this cleaning robot automates the difficult and repetitive task of descaling brake pistons.
  • Engine part galvanizing: an exclusive process using electricity and a chemical reaction to coat a part with a protective layer of metal in order to drastically extend its lifespan.
  • Multihole Combustor Automatic Inspection: what was formerly a time-consuming process tying up significant manpower has now been replaced with our exclusive VISION solution. By automatically scanning the chamber liners with LED lights to identify blockages, this innovation cuts inspection times by two thirds: 15 minutes is all it takes to inspect 20,000 holes!
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Crispijn Huijts

Digital Products & Services Manager

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Crispijn Huijts