The Luxembourg-based company ESPACE 2001 S.A., which specializes in industrial robotics and image processing, has acquired all the shares in the joint venture 3D.aero GmbH from the previous owners Lufthansa Technik AG and Pepperl+Fuchs SE with effect from 1 January 2021.

3D.aero was founded in 2017. Since then, the company has been researching, developing and marketing innovative automation and digitization solutions for the aviation industry. In addition to industrial maintenance and factory automation solutions, 3D.aero also offers optical measuring device applications, digital inspection and image processing applications and related consulting services.

ESPACE 2001, which offers services in the field of robotics and industrial automation, intends to further develop 3D.aero's portfolio and to market the company's existing products and expertise in sensor-based automation technology in various industries outside of aerospace. The Administrateur Délégué of ESPACE 2001, Dr. Werner Neddermeyer, said: "We are very pleased to continue the successful and close cooperation with 3D.aero that has grown over the years. As shareholders of 3D.aero, we will push ahead with a targeted further development in the field of sensor-based automation technology, and in particular in the field of high-resolution 3D sensor technology. It is of particular importance to us that our highly specialized and motivated employees continue to lead the company to economic success with interesting and future-oriented technologies in the field of industrial 3D sensor technology and data processing. To this end, we will expand the strategic partnerships that exist to a large extent in the aviation industry and in other areas".

Dietmar Focke, Vice President Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik, evaluated the agreement: "The dramatic impact of the coronavirus crisis on the aviation industry has unfortunately not stopped at 3D.aero. To ensure the survival of the company, an orientation towards new markets is necessary. We are therefore extremely pleased that in ESPACE 2001 we have found a buyer that not only has a high level of expertise but also the necessary broad market positioning. I wish our employees the best of luck and success in their new working home, and thank them for the great work they have done over the past few years".

Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs, welcomes the agreement: "We are convinced that the strategic reorientation of 3D.aero, which was made necessary by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, can be moved forward much faster under the umbrella of ESPACE 2001, and we are delighted to have found a future for 3D.aero and our employees in this way. We would like to thank them for their excellent work and wish all of them the best of luck and success. In future we would like to continue our cooperation in automation on a project-specific basis".

The headquarters of 3D.aero with its 20 employees is the Hamburg Innovation Port (HIP).

With the previously announced departure of Constanze Hufenbecher and Antonio Schulthess from the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG at the end of the year, the new Executive Board department of Finance and Human Resources will initially be taken over by the Chairman of the Executive Board, Dr Johannes Bussmann, on a provisional basis from 1 January 2021. The transitional arrangement will apply until a new head of the department is appointed. The Supervisory Board will decide on this personnel matter at the beginning of the new year.

In November, the Supervisory Board decided to reduce the size of the Executive Board and to change the structure of the individual departments accordingly. In the course of this reorganisation, Constanze Hufenbecher as Chief Financial Officer and Antonio Schulthess as Chief Human Resources Officer decided to leave Lufthansa Technik at the end of the year to pursue new entrepreneurial challenges. Dr Johannes Bussmann as Chief Executive Officer and Soeren Stark as future Chief Operating Officer will remain on the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG.

Lufthansa Technik AG has recently handed over eight Patient Transport Units (PTU NG) for intensive care patients and 16 oxygen supply systems for medium to lightly injured patients to Airbus Defence and Space. The new PTUs are destined for the multinational Airbus A330 MRTT operated by the MMU (Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Unit) of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), which will also collaborate with the European Air Transport Command (EATC), and enable the transport of up to eight intensive care patients and 16 lying patients with oxygen supply systems. This makes medical evacuation missions (MedEvac) with the aircraft of the MMU fleet possible. 

Shortly after the handover, training for doctors and medical staff will begin at the new units, which are to be completed by the end of November. The first installation of an A330 MRTT of the MMU is scheduled for December. This will create one of the largest and most powerful MedEvac aircraft. The national Airbus A310 MRTT fleet of the German Air Force has already been equipped with the PTU's predecessor model for almost 20 years and is now being gradually replaced.  

The Patient Transport Unit Next Generation complies with NATO standards and is also approved as a civillian medical device. With the units now delivered, the model is in use on four different military and civil aircraft types.  Using seat track adapters, a PTU NG can be installed in almost any aircraft within minutes, allowing the same unit to be used in a fleet of different aircraft types. A unit consists of several modules that can be assembled very quickly without tools and, due to their size and weight, can be easily handled by two persons.  

The core of the PTU NG is a new oxygen system, which is suitable for the latest ventilators. These require oxygen up to three times the amount of conventional devices. Technically, the latest aviation safety requirements have been applied. The PTU NG is developed and manufactured by Lufthansa Technik in cooperation with specialists of Aerolite. 

The Airbus A330 MRTT combines the advanced technology of a new generation tanker with the operational experience recorded during more than 200,000 FH in service. The A330 MRTT is interoperable with receivers worldwide and delivers true multi-role capabilities as proven during the recent MedEvac and strategic transport missions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

EME Aero, the engine services joint venture between Lufthansa Technik AG and MTU Aero Engines AG, has recently completed the first regular maintenance visits of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM Geared Turbo Fan (GTF™) engines. Since January, when the first engine arrived in line with Pratt & Whitney's low pressure turbine (LPT) retrofit program, a total of 21 engines were successfully delivered back to different customers. Moreover, EME Aero has now become an official member in the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network.  

After completing the LPT retrofit program, whose 15 engines were used to smoothly start up operations in the facility, EME Aero has now already completed another six regular customer engine shop visits. "Despite all the obstacles and additional challenges due to the Covid 19 situation, we are still right on track with our ramp up," said Derrick Siebert, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Business at EME Aero. "The entire team is proud of reaching another important milestone by completing the first series of shop visits of GTF engines. This proves that EME Aero has now achieved full operational readiness."  

EME Aero is one of the world's most advanced and largest shops for the latest generation of commercial aircraft engines. With only 18 months from construction to Entry into Service, it was questionable if the very challenging ramp up program could be met. Yet, in December 2019 the state-of-the-art engine shop, including a fully operational test cell, was ready to start operations as an MRO facility. 

"The roughly 400 employees, who have been trained at the company's own training center and at the locations of the two joint venture partners in Germany, finally are now ready to carry out full repairs on the PW1100G-JM," said Robert Maślach, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Operations at EME Aero. "We are optimistic about our future. The strong team spirit from the project and ramp-up has shaped us and is carrying us through these challenging times to be ready for upcoming steep ramp up."  

The next step for EME Aero is the implementation of a high tech flow line planned for the end of this year and readiness for the induction of PW1500G engines in the middle of 2021.  

"Pratt & Whitney would like to congratulate the EME Aero for completing their first Pratt & Whitney GTF engine overhaul," said Joe Sylvestro, Vice President Aftermarket Operations at Pratt & Whitney. "As the GTF fleet continues to grow, the GTF MRO network is ready to provide world-class maintenance services to our customers across the globe." 

As part of the restructuring program RISE, Lufthansa Technik AG will change the structure of its Executive Board responsibilities. In future, the Executive Board will consist of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a Board member for Finance and Human Resources. The COO will then carry responsibility for all operating divisions. As part of this reorganization, Constanze Hufenbecher (currently Chief Financial Officer and responsible for the VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services business unit) and Antonio Schulthess (currently responsible for human resources, lean and process management and the Engines and Aircraft Systems business units) have decided to leave Lufthansa Technik at the end of the year to pursue new entrepreneurial challenges. 

"We thank Constanze Hufenbecher for her very successful work at Lufthansa Technik," said Dr Detlef Kayser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. "She has considerably professionalized the processes in the areas of finance, purchasing, legal and foreign trade as well as infrastructure and has significantly increased both their efficiency and effectiveness." 

Constanze Hufenbecher has made a major contribution to gearing the management of the Lufthansa Technik Group even more strongly towards profitability and cash flow, thus laying the foundation for the company to remain capable of acting and maneuvering even in the most severe crisis in aviation. She has further succeeded in stabilizing the VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services business unit and, together with the management team there, in developing it to its current earnings strength. 

"Antonio Schulthess has played a key role in shaping the Lufthansa Group for many years, and very successfully so, in very diverse top management positions. We are very grateful for this," added Dr Detlef Kayser. "As a member of the Executive Board, he has continuously improved the performance of Lufthansa Technik's human resources department and has thus played a major role in shaping the company's worldwide growth by well over 4,000 employees in recent years. 

Under the leadership of Antonio Schulthess, the Engines and Aircraft Systems business units have set further important milestones, including the contractual linking of the CFM LEAP engine type to Hamburg, the opening of the two major engine joint ventures XEOS and EME Aero in Poland, the establishment of the global Mobile Engine Services network and the successful turnaround of the Landing Gear product segment.  

The Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Technik AG very much regrets that the company is losing two exceptionally successful and valued leaders in the course of restructuring and wishes Constanze Hufenbecher and Antonio Schulthess all the best for their new challenges.  

The Supervisory Board will soon decide on the appointment of the new Executive Board member for the Finance and Human Resources departments. Dr Johannes Bussmann remains CEO of Lufthansa Technik, while Soeren Stark will continue in his responsibility for the operational business as COO. 

SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), a modified Boeing 747SP, is due for another "pit stop": For a routine check at Lufthansa Technik, the flying observatory of the US space agency NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) landed at Hamburg Airport on 30 September 2020. During this layover, which is equivalent to a C-check taking place approximately every three years, the Boeing 747SP is put through its paces. 

"We are looking forward to the renewed cooperation with Lufthansa Technik," says Heinz Hammes, SOFIA Project Manager at DLR's Space Administration branch. "The special circumstances this year require cooperation and increased flexibility from all parties involved. We are convinced that we are in the right place for the tasks ahead." 

China Aviation Supplies Co. Ltd. (CASC) and Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen recently signed a long-term Total Component Maintenance contract in Beijing. The contract extends a comprehensive component maintenance and material support concept by more than 40 Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Qingdao Airlines. During the signing ceremony, both parties reviewed previous project collaborations on Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 and A320 fleets, and held in-depth discussions on their future cooperation in aviation material support.

CASC, a long-standing partner of Lufthansa Technik, will provide Qingdao with component management; Lufthansa Technik will provide Total Component Maintenance (TCM). TCM includes comprehensive closed-loop component repair and overhaul service for selected parts or the entire aircraft – with the cost benefits of a per-flight-hour payment. Especially during the current COVID crisis, this component support concept ensures that the fleets of participating airlines remain highly reliable while helping operators avoid cash outlays for material. This latest addition of the Airbus A320 fleet to the comprehensive cooperation makes both parties the biggest component support provider on a power-by-the-hour basis in mainland China.

Lufthansa Technik AG will expand the worldwide network of specialized repair stations for its innovative Mobile Engine Services with a fifth location. Located in the major center of the EMEA aircraft leasing community and close to the company's airline customers in the British Isles, the new facility in Dublin will commence operations in early October. This doubles the number of European repair stations for Lufthansa Technik's smart surgical engine repair solutions. These solutions extend an engine's time-on-wing and, during these times of crisis, enable airlines to postpone or even avoid cash-intensive major overhaul shop visits for their valuable assets. 

The new facility will have five repair bays covering 600 square meters of floor space and will employ more than 20 engine mechanics. The availability of such highly skilled technicians, with more than 20 years of experience on average, was one of the critical factors in choosing Dublin as a location. The new repair station will begin operations with InFIELD and InSTATION services for the CFM56-5B engines used in the Airbus A320ceo family and the CFM56-7B engines powering the Boeing 737 Next Generation.  

Presenting the opportunity to avoid or postpone major overhaul events, Lufthansa Technik's Mobile Engine Services comprise a broad portfolio of smart engine repair solutions. These range from on-wing and on-site services (inFIELD) performed by Airline Support Teams (AST®) directly at the customer's location to surgical repair solutions, derived from the customer's required workscope and carried out in a global network of five repair stations (InSTATION). In addition to the new repair station in Dublin, these are located in Montréal (Canada), Tulsa (Oklahoma/USA), Frankfurt (Germany), and Shenzhen (China). Mobile Engine Services in the various locations have already received authorizations from more than 40 international airworthiness authorities. 

"In these uncertain times, our goal is to support our customers' control of their cost exposure to engine maintenance and to optimize the operational life of their engines and engine components. This is the smart solution in times of ‘cash is king'," said Michael Kirstein, Vice President Engine Parts Repair and Mobile Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik. "The new repair station deepens our investment and belief in our network of Mobile Engine Services, signaling Lufthansa Technik's strong commitment to help our customers through this unprecedented crisis." 

AeroLogic, the joint freight carrier of DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, is now continuing its trustful partnership with Lufthansa Technik through a multi-year agreement covering extensive component services (Total Component Support – TCS®). This new contract governs supply for AeroLogic's entire fleet of currently 16 Boeing 777F aircraft over a period of ten years. 

AeroLogic considers stable, smooth component supply to be the foundation of reliable operations for its customers. 
Dr. Georg Fanta, Vice President Aircraft Component Services at Lufthansa Technik, says: "We're proud to continue our partnership with AeroLogic for a contractual period of a further ten years. Our operational experience enables us to provide optimal support for AeroLogic's fleet in the fiercely contested air freight market."  
 
In conjunction with component supply, Lufthansa Technik is also providing AeroLogic with predictors via its digital platform AVIATAR to optimize both component supply and AeroLogic's operational planning. 
 
With this Total Component Support TCS® agreement, the carrier benefits from an individual supply concept that enables short and rapid transport paths. The services covered by the contract are customized to fulfill the requirements of AeroLogic, which operates two hubs in Leipzig and Frankfurt.   

After more than 200 young people from the 2020 training year began their career at Lufthansa Technik at the beginning of August, the company is now already starting recruitment for next year's apprenticeships. Despite the continuing crisis in the aviation industry, Lufthansa Technik thus continues to focus consistently on the aeronautical and industrial training of talented young people, albeit with figures adjusted to the current situation.

In Hamburg, 102 training positions are offered for aircraft mechanics in the fields of repair, manufacturing and engine technology, for electronics technicians for devices and systems, and for tool mechanics and surface coating technicians. At the Frankfurt site, eight training positions are open for aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology. Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services is offering 16 training positions for specialists in warehouse logistics and forwarding agents. Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey also offers ten training positions for aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology and one cutting machine operator specialising in milling technology. Lufthansa LEOS is moreover looking for a total of four apprentices as automotive mechanics, two of them in Frankfurt and two in Munich. N3 Engine Overhaul Services, a joint venture with Rolls-Royce, plans to start training in 2021 with a total of ten training positions for aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology.

"There is a significant demographic change in the workforce, as many highly qualified colleagues will be going into well-deserved retirement in the coming years," said Martin Horn, Senior Vice President Recruiting and Vocational Training at Lufthansa Technik. "Therefore it is important to prepare our company for this change in a sustainable manner. Due to the corona crisis, we have reduced the number of available apprenticeship positions accordingly compared to 2020. However, we will continue to maintain our commitment to training, which has lasted for more than 60 years, because for us vocational training is not only a corporate obligation but also a social responsibility and an investment in the future of the aviation industry."