Complex aerospace components: Becker Avionics takes procurement to new heights with FACTUREE
Brief portrait of FACTUREE
FACTUREE offers a future-oriented all-in-one solution for the fast, reliable and up-to-date procurement of all types of drawing parts from a single source. With a network of over 2,000 manufacturing partners and around 15,000 machines, the company covers all common processes such as CNC machining, sheet metal processing, 3D printing and casting. From prototypes to large-scale production, FACTUREE offers maximum delivery capability and resilience for industries such as mechanical engineering, automotive and aviation. Its customers include well-known companies such as Siemens as well as SMEs and research institutions.
Further information: www.facturee.de
Special surface finishes, 3.1 material certificates, customs clearance, and various manufacturing processes make the procurement of custom-designed parts in the aerospace sector particularly challenging. Becker Avionics therefore relies on FACTUREE for both production runs and project-specific requirements. The digital procurement specialist supplies, among other things, coated sheet metal parts as well as CNC-turned and milled components. Manufacturing, surface treatment, certification, logistics, and customs clearance are all bundled into a single centralized procurement process.
Becker Avionics GmbH develops and manufactures communication, navigation, surveillance, and intercom systems, as well as search-and-rescue solutions for Aviation and Ground Applications. The components procured through FACTUREE are used in various devices and assemblies for the aviation industry.
The focus is on both production runs and project-based manufacturing, with typical batch sizes ranging from 10 to 300 parts. The requirements for surface quality, documentation, and process reliability are particularly high.
When surface quality, documentation, and logistics leave no room for compromise
For Becker Avionics, it is not simply a matter of manufacturing individual parts according to drawings. Rather, what is crucial is that the various requirements throughout the entire supply chain work together reliably—from manufacturing processes and surface treatments to certification and logistics.
Specified surface treatments such as SurTec 650, a chromium(VI)-free passivation for aluminum and aluminum alloys, play a particularly important role in this context. Such surfaces are relevant in the aerospace sector because they must meet specific requirements for corrosion protection and material properties. At the same time, this significantly increases the complexity of procurement. The required surface finish could only be provided by a few specialized suppliers.
In addition, material test certificates in accordance with EN 10204-3.1, as well as delivery and customs clearance processes, must be reliably documented.
„Especially when it comes to specialized requirements, the workload can quickly increase when different suppliers and processes need to be coordinated. That’s why it was crucial for us to be able to centrally manage procurement. FACTUREE maps out all steps in a seamless procurement process and handles the transaction as the central contracting party,“ says Tobias Ollech, Senior Buyer at Becker Avionics GmbH.
A one-stop shop reduces complexity
FACTUREE coordinates various manufacturing processes and technical requirements for Becker Avionics through a centralized procurement process. Through a network of more than 2,000 manufacturing partners, suitable manufacturing capacities are always available, even for complex requirements. The digital procurement specialist also handles all necessary supporting processes, such as customs clearance and supporting documentation.
As a result, Becker Avionics is quickly supplied with the necessary components for both production runs and project-specific needs without having to establish separate supply chains to meet different manufacturing and surface finish requirements. This significantly reduces the organizational burden on the procurement department.
„For us, FACTUREE has established itself as a one-stop shop for complex parts based on technical drawings. We save valuable time and money,“ explains Tobias Ollech. „We would like to further expand our procurement of CNC-turned and milled parts through FACTUREE. In addition, we intend to continue sourcing sheet metal parts and increase the corresponding volume.“
