CAPABILITIES

Birken's state-of-the-art facility is complemented by modern CNC lathes, machining centers and inspection equipment which allows the manufacture of some of the most sophisticated parts in aviation today. Birken has been active in establishing efficient single piece flow cells for selected work areas. Annual "Kaizen" events are required training for production and management personnel.

Advanced Machined Components

Matched Valve components require various surface treatments and plating prior to final machining and diametrical matching. Examples of our sophisticated equipment used in measuring tight tolerances include our "cylindricity" test equipment, CMM capability up to 48" and guillotine gauges designed by our in-house tool room.

Engine Case and Gear Box Manufacturing

Birken utilizes state-of-the-art CAD-CAM engineering software to design our processes using 3 dimensional modeling to more accurately estimate run times and tool requirements. We are able to directly download engineering programs from our engineering department to our CNC machining centers. These highly sophisticated systems enable us to be more efficient, competitive and provide savings to our customers. Hundreds of dimensions within our gearbox and engine case products are maintained with predictability, reliability and repeatability.

Air Foils and Vanes

Our high tech CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) integrated with CAD-CAM software provides accurate in-process dimensional inspection. Titanium and other high-temp alloys used in the manufacture of these parts are hot-formed and welded to strict tolerance requirements.

Sheet Metal

A full range of metal forming capabilities including stampings, formed weldments and complex assemblies are available.

Assembly and Test

Test stations provide pneumatic, hydraulic and fuel control parameter verification. Oil flow test equipment is certified to our customers' calibration schedules and have been set up for efficient single piece flow. Oil flow test equipment is capable of high temperature, high pressure testing. Further, nozzle testing provides accurate targeting information with respect to flow and directional specifications for the most sophisticated engine requirements. Any non-conformance to pressure or directional specifications can be reworked within our factory to reach required results. We are the one-stop shop for parts manufacturing, testing and assembly.

Research and Development

During the last 10 years, Birken has developed engineering capabilities to assist our customers in designing and fabricating new engine parts utilizing sophisticated welding techniques with exotic metals. We have partnered with customers who have asked us to take initial designs and improve the potential producibility, machineability and experiment in weight reduction.

Our suggestions, and actual prototype models, have been evaluated and incorporated in some of the most sophisticated engines flying today. We currently have pending redesign proposals to enhance producibility and provide weight reduction in both the JSF engine and the PW210 helicopter programs.