Focusing on Aerospace

Though we were effective in serving our customers in the previous aerospace structure, the reorganization will bring us even closer to our customers, particularly on the manufacturing side. The combination of our vast engineering know-how and our world class manufacturing expertise is one of the strengths that makes us unique. That means a total focus on aerospace with even faster responses and direct access from the manufacturing facility to the customer.

ITG: How will Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Aerospace meet the growing demand for parts and components of its aerospace customers?

Jürgen: Over the past few years, with our customers and their needs in mind, we’ve been heavily investing not only in capacity build-up, but even more in new innovations to enhance the capabilities of our manufacturing facilities. For example, at our Northborough site, we now offer a full range of fire proof and fire resistance testing. Advanced in-house testing capabilities allow us to significantly streamline our processes and reduce time to market.

Similar investments are being made at other sites: we are building a new Materials Test House & Qualification Laboratory at our facility in Cadley Hill, England, and we are expanding our elastomer seal production capabilities in Condé, France, to better serve European customers.

In Asia, we have been gradually expanding our engineering and manufacturing capacity, to support both our traditional customers, as well as the emerging Aerospace industry.

Additional investments are already in the planning stage. Our top consideration for any new investment is how it benefits our customers.

ITG: Composite products are a hot topic in the aerospace industry due to the benefits they offer over other materials, particularly metals. What capabilities does Trelleborg Sealing Solutions offer in this field?

Jürgen: In the past few years, increasing our capabilities in the area of composite products has been a big focus. Not only do we offer in-house engineering expertise for composites, but also state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing capabilities. Our new Composite Cleanroom in Cadley Hill, England, for example, supports the production of highest quality composite material, ideal for use in critical applications.

In addition, we recently acquired Automated Dynamics, a specialist in advanced composite products. This new facility in Albany, New York, U.S., makes composite parts using both the traditional autoclave process and the innovative Out Of Autoclave (OOA) process for continuousfiber thermoplastic components, which offers more efficient production and are even lighter in weight.

ITG: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Aerospace is the undisputed market leader in sealing systems for aircraft hydraulics, but what other strengths does Trelleborg offer to the aerospace industry?

Jürgen: Good question! Seals are not just used in hydraulics, but they can be found almost everywhere on aircraft. We offer sealing solutions for jet engines and interior applications, like air conditioning systems, overhead bins and fluid water and waste management. And, in my opinion, our most visually impressive products are our airframe seals. Contributing to aerodynamic efficiency and reduced fuel burn, these can be found throughout the aircraft body, wings, windows, and doors.

In addition, we’ve recently developed a new line of highspeed rotary seals. Our HiSpin® products are designed to ensure maximum performance at high rotational speeds and HiSpin® PDR RT is ideal for use in gearbox applications on helicopters.

But our strengths and expertise don’t just include our products. Our engineers and sealing experts, as well as the services we offer our customers, is where our primary strengths lie. Our experts work closely with customers in joint partnerships to develop solutions to meet the customers’ needs. I like to call this hand-in-hand engineering.

ITG: One final question on a very different topic: what role do you think social media plays in the future for communication with customers?

Jürgen: Social media has huge potential to enhance communication with customers. Not only is it an effective tool to raise awareness among customers and potential customers for our business, products and capabilities. But, social selling is also a powerful mechanism to improve communication between our engineers and customers.

Rather than promoting our business at a company level, social media enables increased personal contact on a more informal level. At Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, we have a number of expert social sellers and we’ve seen the real benefits social media can offer.

ITG: Thank you Jürgen for your insight! It was great having the opportunity to speak with you about the new Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Aerospace business, the role of the customer and your vision for the future.

Jürgen: My pleasure!