Simplification is Our Innovation

Rate-Enabling Technology

23
June 2019

What is rate-enabling technology?

In the aerospace industry, time is critical. Every minute it takes to build an aircraft costs more money. Rate-enabling technology makes it possible for aircraft manufacturers to build airplanes faster and easier. Rate-enabling products are easy to use, require less time to install and they streamline airplane assembly.

Which products can support this?

Many of our products support this technology, including self-locking, sliding and tool-less products. Additionally, quick-lock products are rate enabling because they allow for quick and easy production.

Why is it important?

Did you know that every type of aircraft has at least 250,000* parts, with the largest aircraft having up to 7 million parts? With so many thousands and millions of parts on airplanes, it is critical to speed up the process of assembling everything, while still maintaining quality. Rate-enabling technology enables manufacturers to build airplanes on time and according to schedule, or even ahead of schedule.

It is also important for companies to have suppliers they can depend on to deliver parts when they say will, without any quality issues. This ensures that the process isn't slowed down by missed deadlines. At Radiall, the automation in our factories is the qualitative reason we are a rate-enabling partner; in addition to the products we design, the people and processes at Radiall contribute to rate-enabling technology and success.

*Below is a list of aircraft and their number of parts:
Business Jets and RJ ≈ 250,000 - 500,000 (Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer)
Single Aisle Aircraft ≈ 500,000 - 1,200,000 (737, 757, A320 family)**
Wide Body Aircraft ≈ 1,200,000 - 3,000,000 (767,777, A340)**
Jumbo Aircraft ≈ 3,000,000 - 7,000,000 (747, A380)**

**There is wide variation between models and roles. For example, freighter conversions would have significantly less parts than the full passenger versions.