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Components for ground support equipment
When aeroplanes are on the ground, everything has to happen very quickly. In order to realise the "turnover" as quickly as possible, a large number of special vehicles have been developed: the Ground Support Equipment (GSE).
Here, numerous processes - such as refuelling, unloading baggage, de-icing and boarding - are carried out simultaneously. The challenges, especially for the components, include flexibility (every aircraft is different in size, the GSE vehicles must be able to adapt to this) and absolute reliability. Regardless of whether the sun is shining, it is stormy or snowing at the airport, the GSE must function reliably. Every failure is expensive.
Customers worldwide rely on motion plastic because it is corrosion and maintenance-free, resistant to chemicals and absolutely reliable with a predictable service life.
Areas of application:
- De-icing vehicles
- Baggage lifts
- Aircraft tugs
- Catering trucks
- Ambulance lifts
De-icing vehicles | De-icing
In order to guarantee aerodynamics and thus safety when flying, aircraft must be completely free of obstructions. This also applies to ice and snow in cold seasons. A complex task that demands a lot from man and machine in order to survive under time pressure.
Our energy chain, cable and bearing technology have been tested under extreme conditions and are ideally suited for use in telescopic arms, for cab rotation or in the spray nozzle. Certain iglidur® materials are also resistant to media such as glycol, formic acid, paraffin or Skydrol.
Luggage lifts | Cargo Loader
Cargo loaders are used at airports to load large containers or pieces of luggage onto aircraft. They must be able to withstand the heavy loads and harsh conditions and also be height-adjustable.
e-chain® and chainflex® cable are ideal for cable routing for height adjustment. dry-tech® plain bearings, thrust washers and rollers can be used flexibly and are completely lubrication-free, even under loads of up to 200 MPa. They are therefore used in scissor lift tables or platforms, for example.
Aircraft tugs | Pusher
Aircraft tugs, also known as "pushers" or "towbar tugs", are real powerhouses. They are used to move aircraft on the tarmac or in maintenance hangars. In some models, the front wheel is clamped in a mechanism and the aircraft is lifted.
iglidur® heavy-duty plain bearings are used here in the clamping mechanism, energy chains are used to guide the cable and hose and PRT slewing rings ensure the necessary rotation of the seat in the driver's cab.
Catering trucks
Catering trucks can be used to transport empty "service trolleys" out of the aircraft and full ones back in again. The last few metres between the truck and the aircraft are usually bridged with a telescopic platform.
Here, motion plastic is ideal for a variety of applications: e-chain® for cable routing in the height adjustment or drylin® linear bearings and iglidur® plain bearings in the platform. motion plastic scores points here thanks to its freedom from lubrication, high edge loads and resistance to chemicals such as Skydrol, formic acid or glycols.
Ambulifts
An Ambulift is used to enable physically impaired people to board an aircraft safely and comfortably. A large number of movements take place both at the front (when boarding the Ambulift) and at the rear (when boarding the aircraft). With the help of motion plastic, these can be automated completely lubrication-free.
Success stories
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