A large plane manufacturer needed help getting their employees safe access to the plane’s fuselage barrel during production. They considered working with a few different companies to develop fuselage maintenance platforms but ultimately called on the experts at SafeRack’s Aerostep division to create an access platform for workers to gain access to the fuselage barrel for production. There were several obstacles that had to be avoided when considering the access equipment and installing it in a safe and effective way. The fuselage barrel travels through the different production cells with a ring cart, which is a powered movable rig that the fuselage is bolt to during assembly. This ring cart was an obstacle that the access platform would have to reach while being stable enough to not impact or damage the fuselage barrel. In addition, the plane manufacturer was using netting for fall protection in the barrel to keep workers from falling out between the gap in the access stair, but it was difficult to set up and takedown and required a lot of time.
AeroStep creates custom cantilever fuselage maintenance platforms with pivoting wing handrails
Working with the stair experts at AeroStep and using their STP file modeling and Laser Manufacturing, we created a cantilever tooling platform with pivoting wing handrails. The fuselage maintenance platforms cantilevered over the ring cart and the wing railing replaced the need for netting, solving both challenges. A fold downstair was added as well, so the workers could get up and over the ring of the ring cart and down to the work platform inside the fuselage. Aerostep was able to create a precision cantilever tooling platform that was mobile, but as sturdy as fixed stairs. The mobility increased production efficiency, was ergonomic, and was OSHA compliant.
Finally, the wings pivoted out to replace the netting, both saving time and creating a safer work environment for their employees. Because the fuselage is tapered with differing heights in aft and fwd ends, multiple size fuselage maintenance platforms were created for each section. Ultimately both the plane manufacturer and the safety experts at Aerostep were pleased with the results of this project.
Erectastep and Aerostep have Rugged powder-coated rolling stairs with steel construction, perfect for both interior and exterior use. Rolling stairs and mobile work platforms are easily customized for added operational efficiency in manufacturing plants or improved workplace safety in aviation maintenance. Four pre-engineered industrial models minimize physical exertion and risk of injury. Workers gain safe access and fall protection plus greater productivity. If your elevated workspace is more complex, let us fabricate custom mobile maintenance platforms and stairs. All mobile stairs and platforms are easy to maneuver and sturdy to help you get the job done easier, faster, and safer.
