Following a competitive tendering process, Nottingham-based Filtertechnik, a manufacturer and supplier of filtration solutions for oils and process fluids, has secured a contract with Meggitt, valued at over £500,000 ($622,000), to design and manufacture complex rigs for testing and certifying heat exchangers for the aerospace sector. This is one of the largest single orders Filtertechnik has ever won.
The design of these test rigs requires a deep understanding of pressure, temperature and flow characteristics and fluid cleanliness. This is a key requirement in many advanced engineering sectors such as aerospace, motorsport and off-highway earth moving and quarrying equipment. Filtertechnik, and its sister company Hydrotechnik, are specialist manufacturers and suppliers of advanced test and data logging equipment as well as fluid cleanliness solutions for hydraulic and fluid systems. Test rigs for F1, end of production testing and R&D proof/cyclic/burst testing are all part of the group’s expertise.
The Meggitt rigs form part of an end of production test line and are designed to work on a number of heat exchanger products. A flushing rig will provide forward and reverse flushing cycles to both sides of the heat exchangers, removing all traces of production contamination through advanced filtration and specific flow dynamics. The heat exchangers are then subject to a series of flow and pressure tests to check differentials and valve cracking and ensure pressures are all within tolerance. Highly accurate flow meters and pressure sensors are deployed for this part of the test with all results being logged to a central server as well as being displayed locally on the test rig HMI (Human Machine Interface). Each heat exchanger will have a clear pass/fail indication at every step of the testing process. All tests will be stored on a central database for reporting and traceability purposes.
“We are very excited to be working with Meggitt, and our contract with them is one of the biggest we have ever secured,” Richard Price, managing director, Filtertechnick says. “Meggitt is making a huge investment and commitment to its operations in the UK and we are delighted to be part of this.”
Simon Wileman, senior manager, Program Management, Meggitt adds: “The work Filtertechnick will be doing for us is very important and following a competitive tender process, we felt they had the right skill set and experience to meet our specific needs in this area.”
The ability to integrate test sensors and software is a central asset of Filtertechnik/Hydrotechnik. Providing complex results through a system that is easy to understand and operate is key to ease of use and accessibility.
Meggitt manufactures a large range of heat exchangers for Aero Engines which are exported all over the world. Heat exchangers cool hydraulic fluids on aircraft, taking heat from where it is not wanted to where it is needed, in a highly efficient way.
Meggitt has just completed construction of a new state of the art global headquarters which will also be the centre of excellence for heat exchanger technology worldwide. The rigs will be installed in this new facility ready for the migration of current activities from their Birmingham location