Case Study: Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke GmbH speeds CNC programming and cuts manufacturing time with TopSolid

Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke GmbH - Customer Case Study

Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke GmbH (PFW), a supplier of structural components and cargo loading systems for Airbus, faced the challenge of creating complex milling programs for aircraft parts. Their customer, Airbus, mandated the use of CATIA design software, but its complexity made it difficult for shop floor staff with deep manufacturing knowledge but limited computer skills to use for CNC programming. This created a bottleneck under the intense time pressures of the aviation industry.

To solve this, PFW implemented the TopSolid'Cam solution from vendor TopSolid. They used its flawless CATIA interface to convert models into TopSolid geometries, which their manufacturing staff could then use to intuitively program milling operations with powerful simulation functions. This allowed CNC programming to be done on the shop floor by the experts who understood the machines. The results included a 60% reduction in manufacturing time for one specific part, improved precision, and the ability to meet Airbus's stringent requirements and short lead times.

Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke GmbH

Peter Hammann

Supervisor