Automation Productivity Takes Off at Bombardier

Bombardier wanted an automated solution to rivet wing panels for the Challenger jet on their floor in six months. CRIQ delivered.

Innovation and technology have made Bombardier the world’s leading supplier of business-class jets. When faced with improving the Challenger’s production, Bombardier wanted an automated solution as field-proven as the aircraft itself. It needed to be one that would combine the most advanced machine vision, robotics and statistical control available. Now Bombardier’s flying high, with an automated wing-panel riveting system, designed and delivered by CRIQ.

For 15 years constant improvement has kept the Challenger ahead of the pack. Automated riveting is the most recent innovation in its production.
The requirements: drilling and riveting thousands of times along the 50-foot panels, with a precision of ±0.005 inch. And not just any panels - wing panels, destined to fly at altitudes of up to 41,000 feet and supersonic speeds of up to Mach 0.83.

Field-proven in dozens of industrial installations, CRIQ has delivered:

• Auto-positioning of a servo-driven drilling and riveting head
• Machine vision scanning to ensure in-house specification compliance of holes and rivets
• Easily adjustable drilling, riveting and sealing parameters.

Beyond Expectations
Bombardier anticipated the 100% quality inspection it would achieve with the new system. Some pleasant surprises were also in store :

• Aircraft delivery time reduced, and return on investment of under 24 months
• Decrease in labour costs and associated industrial accidents
• Delivery of the new riveting equipment in six months, rather than the industry-standard of twelve.

CRIQ is a recognized integrator of FANUC Robotics