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The use of Collaborative Robots (Cobots) is an emerging technology that is developing at a fast pace. Within GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business a project is initiated to accelerate knowledge of application of this technology. Goal of the project is to get familiar with the technology and possibilities of a Cobot. The primary difference between Cobotics and a conventional Robotics approach is that the technology can safely exist in a human operating environment without caging or other hard guarding. Both Fokker Aerostructures and Fokker Landing Gear wanted to gain experience with this technology and worked together in the preparation of 2 projects to be showcased in their companies. Fokker Aerostructures concentrated on the application of handling of an Automatic Drilling Unit (ADU) for the production of the A350 Outboard Flap. Task of the Cobot was to pick-up an ADU from a table and insert the ADU in a drill jig.

In this paper Stork Fokker presents its continuous improvements for the assembly of closed box type components. Conventional assembly consists of many non-value-adding activities, like disassembly, cleaning, de-burring and re-assembly. Within the 5th framework European Research project BASSA (Bond Assisted Single Step Assembly) an assembly method has been developed without any unnecessary steps. The Stork Fokker results of this project are presented. Following the BASSA project, new developments in adhesive material were carried out together with L&L Products. This company contributes the experience coming form the automotive industry, while Stork Fokker provides the requirements coming from the aerospace industry. Together these two partners present their latest results for an assembly method that complies with the best lean manufacturing practices.

In this paper Stork Fokker presents some of its developments related to the assembly of closed box type components. When drilling in closed box components, produced via Single Step Assembly, exit burrs need to be minimized and no chips and end-caps are allowed to fall inside the component. Within Stork Fokker, research was done on a drilling concept that is capable of meeting these requirements. Both Single Step Assembly and drilling technology are integrated in the Robot Assembly Cell currently in use for series production.