Safe handling of heavy jet engines with Blickle heavy-duty castors

Challenge

HYDRO SYSTEMS KG is the world market leader in machinery and equipment for the maintenance, repair and assembly of both civil and military aircraft.

For the installation of jet engines, the company required a solution that could safely transport and precisely position turbines weighing several tonnes after maintenance work.

The equipment needed to handle both transportation and exact alignment with the aircraft – all under extreme conditions such as large temperature fluctuations, UV exposure, and uneven terrain.

Solution

Blickle developed a customised twin-wheel castor for HYDRO, incorporating the heavy-duty wheels of the GTH series:

•  Twin-wheel design: Four welded-steel twin-wheel castors per stand distribute the enormous weight and ensure safe transport – even over uneven ground.
•  Directional lock: A locking pin secures the swivel head, ensuring excellent directional stability when moving over long distances.
•  Precise positioning: Once at the aircraft, the swivel castors allow for accurate alignment of the engine for installation.
•  Wheel lock "Radstop": This lock engages both wheels with very high holding force, keeping the stand secure and stable even under maximum load.

 Robust construction: The welded-steel heavy-duty swivel housing with yellow passivation provides excellent corrosion resistance. The cast iron wheel core, combined with Blickle Extrathane premium polyurethane tread, delivers high load capacity, low rolling resistance and long service life.

Results

• The customised solution proved its worth for HYDRO in practice:
•  Safe and precise movement of multi-tonne jet engines
•  Easy handling and improved workplace safety during assembly
•  High durability, eliminating lengthy and costly set-up times
•  Cost savings: despite the engineering effort, the solution was more economical than the previous product
•  Rapid development, production and delivery thanks to close collaboration between HYDRO and Blickle

Conclusion

With these specially developed heavy-duty twin-wheel castors, Blickle provided HYDRO with a solution that meets the highest safety standards, simplifies assembly processes, and impresses with its durability and cost-effectiveness.

A solution that perfectly combines efficiency and safety in the defence sector.

Further Information

Read more about the HYDRO success story: https://www.blickle.de/branchenloesungen/success-stories/intralogistik/success-story-lsd-gth-hydro