The investment casting specialist TITAL has established itself as a system supplier to Liebherr Toulouse, one of the leading manufacturers of air conditioning systems (Liebherr supplies the aviation industry with components for air conditioning systems). TITAL will produce two different air-water extractors at a total quantity of more than 1,000 units ready for assembly over the coming years. The aluminium investment castings are fundamental parts of Liebherr's A/C systems to equip the Boeing 747-800 as well as the military transporter A400M. To date Liebherr's water extractors were assembled and welded by hand from a large number of individual parts. However, the investment casting technology now allows Liebherr to reduce to four the number of individual parts and thus to make significant savings in terms of weight and costs.

Philipp Jerusalem, Director Sales & Marketing at TITAL, comments: „We have acquired a special unique selling proposition that clearly sets us apart from our competitors. This water extractor is a prime example of a successful vertical integration." This means that TITAL not only produces the four individual aluminium investment castings, but also does the machining, welding and the required pressure tests. Afterwards the functional surfaces of the water extractors undergo a special treatment. The parts receive surface protection, and finally the requested add-on parts such as screws, safety ropes, and identity plates will be assembled. Liebherr receives the water extractors ready for integration.

The water extractors that TITAL is going to supply to Liebherr's air conditioning systems will help to extract excess humidity from the cabin air. First the passing air is cycled, so that the little water drops fly outside thanks to centrifugal forces. They stick to the walls of the extractor before flowing off via drainage channels.

Thomas Stephan, Key-Account-Manager at TITAL underlines the importance of high-performing A/C systems for aircrafts: „It is a rule of thumb that the air in an aircraft must be completely exchanged every one or two minutes." To do so the "bleed air" from the engine will be transferred inside the aircraft. „The temperatures being rather moderate, a material such as aluminium is excellent, and that's what we use for the water extractors", Stephan remarks. A total of three independent climate packs will be installed in every Boeing 747-800, and two packs each in the A 400M.

The company based in Bestwig sees good chances to become a system supplier on a long-term basis for the Boeing 747-800 as well as the A400M - as long as they will be produced. „We consider this purchase order as a strategic opportunity. It is another building block to guarantee workplaces at TITAL long term", Jerusalem explains.