Page 36 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 Online Magazine

FeAtUre teCHnoLogY

dentCHECK translates to reduced turn- The Road Ahead R&D and manufacturing center in southern
around-time, higher operational efficiency In addition to dentCHECK, 8tree’s portfolio Germany, is poised for growth in the next
and reduced loss of revenue for airlines and of surface inspection tools consists of few years. “Our intention is to scale with the
MRO operators. An example is TAP-M&E, two other products. fastCHECK, is a high- market in order to better serve customers
which is now able to inspect dents and create accuracy 3D measurement tool that delivers along the way. We are driven by the desire
SRM-compliant dent reports at an effective instant analysis of fastener flushness and to address a much under-served need that
rate of 240 dents per man-hour-day. Before angularity. It is used by aerospace OEMs and can directly enhance aviation safety and
the introduction of the tool, the company had Tier-1s globally. stepCHECK enables instant reliability. Our hope is that in the next five
an effective rate of 24 dents per man-hour- analysis of adjacent surfaces delivering years, the evolving capabilities of dentCHECK
day using traditional mapping methods. robust and actionable 3D measurements for are viewed as the de facto solution for
Chhabra is of the opinion that the panel-alignment. Just as with dentCHECK, all technicians mapping dents on the flight-line
introduction of tools such as dentCHECK 8tree products are designed with the same and in the maintenance hangar.”
are imperative at a time when the industry user-centric design philosophy – 1-button
is facing an imminent shortage of qualified operation and actionable answers in seconds.
technicians as the workforce undergoes We are industry agnostic and focus
a generational transition. “As seasoned instead on specific problems,” says Chhabra.
technicians begin to exit the industry, “For every product that we design, we spend
those taking their place have been brought a few years immersing ourselves among the dentCHECK was specifically
up with digital technology and have little workforce in that industry to understand designed and optimised for the
expertise in traditional analog tools and their day-to-day headaches. Then, we try to problem of aviation dent mapping.
related methods and processes,” he says. solve it accurately and consistently with one Airbus has endorsed dentCHECK
“We need to equip them with intelligent button operation that delivers a definitive for dent mapping on metallic
aircraft and Boeing has recognised
tools that allow them to do their job actionable answer.” the use of 3D scanners such as
confidently and efficiently.” The young company, which has its dentCHECK
36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA