The British Airways paint shop at Heathrow is one of the most hard-worked aspects of the company’s extensive engineering operation.

Now a comprehensive system of window masks for stripping and repainting operations on all aircraft types is saving time and reducing rework in the department.

Working with UK aerospace specialists at global company 3M, BA has developed a new standardised masking system.

The company now uses a single type of aluminium foil mask during stripping and a single type of plastic film mask during repainting. The masks are supplied precisely shaped for the windows of each aircraft and window type on the BA fleet.

Before paint stripping, windows must be masked to prevent damage from the chemicals used in the paint removal process. Likewise, similar masks are used during painting. In the past, BA’s original design of paint-stripping masks had caused significant problems, allowing the stripping chemical to damage the plastic windows beneath.

The new 3M mask system uses a specially formulated adhesive to deliver an extremely secure bond to the window surface, elimating edge lifting during paint shop processes. The adhesive is also resistant to leaching and comes off cleanly without leaving residue.

In trials, the accurate fit of the new masks has cut the time taken to mask an aircraft by 60 per cent. So far, damage to windows by paint or stripper ingress behind the masks has been totally eliminated and the project has been cost neutral.

Source

Glass Age