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step toward the industrialization of AM in the aircraft MRO indus- What would have taken engineers months
try and aims to take advantage of potential flexibility and cost to aggregate the data and create algorithms
savings in manufacturing, procurement, warehousing and supply instead only took days for two data scien-
chain management. However, prior to this the two companies tists to complete using the Predikto software
will have to work together to develop reliable, repeatable and platform. “Predikto’s approach and technol-
quality-assured additive manufacturing processes, standards ogy has been demonstrated globally across
and products for the MRO industry. the aviation, rail and shipping industries
where unplanned downtime and unsched-
“Lufthansa Technik is active in areas such as the uled maintenance can be costly. There is
cabin of the future, 3D printing, and Industry 4.0,” great opportunity for additional applicability
Bernhard Krueger-Sprengel, vice president, to many of United Technologies’ products
Engine Services, at Lufthansa Technik. and services. We are beyond excited to
“We see the partnership with Oerlikon’s AM team join the team and begin making an impact,”
as an exciting opportunity to accelerate Lufthansa said Mario Montag, CEO, Predikto who will
Technik’s plan of having local AM repair capabilities assume the role of Chief Data & Analytics
on a global scale.” Officer for United Technologies.
Singapore based ST Engineering has taken a
Reinforcing United Technologies’ global digital strategy, the major step forward in its aerospace ambitions
company acquired Atlanta-based predictive analytics software with the recent acquisition of MRA Systems,
company Predikto, Inc gaining access to the firm’s cloud-based LLC (MRAS) from General Electric Company.
predictive health maintenance solution, which enables cus- MRAS is an established Original Equipment
tomers to forecast and improve asset reliability with greater Manufacturer (OEM) of engine nacelle sys-
certainty. Predikto’s technology platform is able to take hundreds tems for both narrowbody and widebody
of disparate industrial asset data-sets and automate up to 80 aircraft. MRAS which is based Baltimore,
Maryland, USA two principal business lines:
design, development, production and sale of
nacelles, thrust reversers and aerostructures;
and spare parts sales. “Moving upstream into
the business of design and manufacturing
of nacelles will allow us to benefit directly
from the robust growth of the global aircraft
fleet as an OEM, and enable us to serve our
customers better through an enhanced suite
of products and services. MRAS fits into this
strategic intent given its strong portfolio of
intellectual properties and programmes sup-
porting high-growth aircraft platform such as
the A320neo,” said Lim Serh Ghee, President
of ST Engineering’s Aerospace sector, said.
MRAS has delivered over 500 LEAP-1A
engine nacelles for A320neo’s, after receiv-
percent of the analytics process to quickly deliver actionable ing a single-source contract in partnership
insights for taking pre-emptive steps to avoid issues, thereby with Safran Nacelles in 2012. Over half of
increasing asset uptime. “Data is the lifeblood of any digital strat- the more than 6,000 A320neos ordered till
egy and actionable data is the way forward as we deliver real date will be powered by LEAP-1A engines
customer value,” said Vince Campisi, Chief Digital Officer, United (60 percent). The company is now slated
Technologies, following the acquisition. Predikto has already to increased deliveries of LEAP-1A engine
completed serval pilots with Pratt & Whitney specifically focused nacelles to Airbus as the airframer looks to
on commercial engines using pre-existing data. Together, as a ramp-up production from 55 to 63 aircraft per
complement to Pratt & Whitney’s existing physics-based models, month by mid-2019. MRAS is also the single
the models generated by Predikto identified factors related source engine nacelle supplier for COMAC’s
to unplanned engine events. When taken into account, these C919 which is powered by LEAP-1C turbofan
insights will further increase the predictability of future issues engines and COMAC’s ARJ21 powered by
and inform the development of key product improvements. General Electric’s CF34 engines.

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