5G improves production of jet engine components

Ericsson and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology have teamed up to explore the industrial applications of 5G. The first use case for production of jet engine components for MTU Aero Engines is being presented this week at the Hanover Fair in Germany.
The components concerned, so-called blade integrated disks (blisk), are high-tech components where the disk and blades are produced as a single piece and serve the purpose of compressing the air inside jet engines.
Thomas Dautl, director of manufacturing technology, MTU Aero Engines, said: “A blade-integrated disk is a high-value component. The milling process takes 15-20 hours and the total lead time is around 3-4 months, including coating processes and quality checks. The new 5G-based production technology will help make our operations more efficient.”