Compressor and turbine blades are important components in
aircraft engines and gas turbines. When they become damaged, it is often
cheaper to repair them than to buy replacements. Now there is a new
robotassisted technique that is boosting efficiency.
The German turbomachinery sector is booming. Over the past
25 years, it has doubled its share of the global market from 15 to 30 percent.
For manufacturers, the service business – i.e. maintenance, repair, and
overhaul (MRO) – is steadily growing in importance. The blades in compressors
and turbines are subject to particularly high levels of stress and strain. The
job of the blades is to convert fluid energy into mechanical energy. They ensure that aircraft engines generate
the required thrust and that power plant generators produce sufficient
electricity.