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Leonard Buck

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8tree delivers on-demand dent-mapping services for Swiss International Air Lines

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press, Testimonial

8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-Service™ digitally mapped and reported hail damage on the control surfaces of B777 and A220 aircraft operated by Swiss International Air Lines.

CONSTANCE, GERMANY & RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

More than 1,500 dents were digitally mapped and reported by 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-Service (daaS) at Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) hangars in Zurich, Switzerland. The control surfaces of a B777 and an A220 had been damaged in a hailstorm. 8tree’s service engineers used the dentCHECK dent-mapping tool to digitally map and report all dents on the affected areas, efficiently and effectively.

“We are very satisfied with the service provided by 8tree”, says Claus Bauer, Head of Technical Division at SWISS. “The automated dentCHECK-tool helped us to record hail damage quickly and completely so that we could rectify it promptly. This enabled us to return the aircraft concerned to flight operations in airworthy condition as quickly as possible, which is of key importance to us as an airline.”

“We are excited that Swiss International Air Lines decided to perform the dent-mapping on two hail damaged aircraft with 8tree’s service capabilities”, said Erik Klaas, CTO, 8tree. “As the first Swiss airline, they joined the growing base of dentCHECK-as-a-Service customers who disposition hail damage affected aircraft using our dentCHECK tool. We look forward to continuing Swiss International Airlines maintenance operations.”

The dentCHECK platform is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs. It can also be found integrated into drones and robotic automation cells. Leading Airlines & MROs across the Commercial, Military, Cargo and Business aviation sectors use 8tree’s dentCHECK tool and 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-service for mapping aircraft damage and creating detailed SRM-compliant digital damage reports.

With integrated AR, dentCHECK empowers the aircraft technician with instant, actionable measurements for critical airframe damage while boosting consistency (18x), accuracy (20x), efficiency (90% time-savings) and eliminating human-subjectivity, compared to traditional manual inspection methods. dentCHECK delivers precision measurements ‘as simple as taking a photo’, and enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

Learn how dozens of airlines/MROs are using dentCHECK by reading our customer testimonials.

About 8tree
8tree tools, technology and services boost your production quality with precision 3D measurement that is as simple as taking a photo.
With built-in AR, 8tree’s tools empower operators of every skill-level to achieve accurate, consistent, and actionable inspection results within seconds.

For more information, visit 8-tree.com.
For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

Download Press Release as PDF
Download Press-Kit

Avinxt integrates dentCHECK® in automated robotics system

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press

8tree extends its automation inspection portfolio by partnering with Avinxt for robotic aviation inspection system.

CONSTANCE, GERMANY & RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER 22, 2023

8tree’s 3D inspection engines can be found in the hands of human operators, mounted on drones, and integrated into robotic automation cells.

The automatic robotics system from Avinxt for fully automated aircraft de-icing, washing and engine wash will debut at Avinor Oslo Airport (OSL), where the robot will be built in 2024.  The robot, which replaces the current manual and time-consuming processes, is faster,  more environmentally friendly and more cost-effective than traditional methods.

“By integrating 8tree’s technology with our robotics system, we can scan aircraft for damage. The system performs aircraft surface inspections with extreme precision within a few hours, compared to manual processes that take several weeks. We believe this service will be in high demand from airlines and leasing companies as it will significantly reduce costs,” said CEO Ove Trøen of Avinxt.

“We are excited to work with Avinxt on this very novel robotic inspection concept”, said Erik Klaas, CTO and Co-Founder at 8tree. “Never before was it possible to automate aircraft inspection to this degree. We see a big potential not only in the case of hail damage assessment on the entire aircraft but also in cases where the aircraft changes ownership. This has always been an area with lots of debate which now can be resolved with an objective and quick process.”

The dentCHECK platform is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs. It can also be found integrated into drones and robotic automation cells. Leading Airlines & MROs across the Commercial, Military, Cargo and Business aviation sectors use 8tree’s dentCHECK tool and 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-service for mapping aircraft damage and creating detailed SRM-compliant digital damage reports.

With integrated AR, dentCHECK empowers the aircraft technician with instant, actionable measurements for critical airframe damage while boosting consistency (18x), accuracy (20x), efficiency (90% time-savings) and eliminating human-subjectivity, compared to traditional manual inspection methods.  dentCHECK delivers precision measurements ‘as simple as taking a photo’, and enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

Learn how dozens of airlines/MROs are using dentCHECK by reading our customer testimonials.

About 8tree
8tree tools, technology and services boost your production quality with precision 3D measurement that is as simple as taking a photo.
With built-in AR, 8tree’s tools empower operators of every skill-level to achieve accurate, consistent, and actionable inspection results within seconds.

For more information, visit 8-tree.com.
For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

About Avinxt

Avinxt is building the world’s biggest robot powered by green technology and artificial intelligence that will reduce cost and carbon emissions for the aviation industry. Supported by Canrig and Siemens, the world’s largest robot from Avinxt will potentially replace the current manual and time-consuming processes for de-ice, wash, engine wash and technical inspection of aircraft. The first robot is expected to be in operation at Oslo Airport in 2024.

For more information, visit avinxt.com.

Download Press Release as PDF
Download Press-Kit

8tree’s Calibration Laboratory achieves ISO 17025 Accreditation from Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS)

By Newsroom, Press

CONSTANCE, GERMANY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 

 

8tree ISO17025 Accreditation

ISO17025 Certificate

8tree, a global leader in 3D surface inspection tools, is proud to announce that its calibration laboratory based in Constance, Germany has been accredited according to ISO 17025 by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS), the accreditation body of the Federal Republic of Germany, with the accreditation number D-K-21981-01-00.  

This significant achievement underscores 8tree’s unwavering commitment to quality and precision measurements. 

The ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is a testament to a laboratory’s technical competence and ability to produce precise and accurate test and calibration data. It sets the gold standard for calibration and testing laboratories  worldwide, ensuring that they adhere to the highest quality benchmarks. 

“We are proud to achieve this accreditation from DAkkS, which is a testament to our continuous pursuit of excellence and quality,” said Arun Chhabra, CEO of 8tree. “This recognition further solidifies our position as a trusted partner for our customers, ensuring that our products and services are of the highest caliber, and that we continue to exceed customer expectations.” 

What does ISO 17025 Accreditation Mean? 

  • It signifies that the laboratory technically operates with high accuracy, reliability, and consistency. 
  • It ensures that the laboratory has a robust quality management system in place, and  an external body regularly audits its operations.
  • The laboratory’s results are internationally recognized, paving the way for even more global business opportunities. 

Benefits of ISO 17025 Accreditation: 

  • Enhanced Credibility: Clients and partners can trust the results produced by the laboratory. 
  • Operational Excellence: Streamlined processes lead to reduced errors and increased efficiency. 
  • Global Recognition: The laboratory’s results are accepted and recognized worldwide. 
  • Continuous Improvement: Regular audits ensure that the laboratory is always improving its processes and methodologies. 

To access ‘ ‘8tree’s accreditation on the website of the Accreditation body, please visit https://www.dakks.de/en/accredited-body.html?id=D-K-21981-01-00. 

About 8tree 

8tree tools, technology and services boost your production quality with precision 3D measurement that is as simple as taking a photo.
With built-in AR, 8tree’s tools empower operators of every skill-level to achieve accurate, consistent, and actionable inspection results within seconds.   

For more information, visit 8-tree.com. 
For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

Download Press Release as PDF

AMROS Global partners with 8tree to offer dentCHECK-as-a-Service

By dentCHECK, Newsroom, Press

8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-Service program grows with the addition of AMROS Global as an 8tree Certified Service Partner.
dentCHECK-as-a-Service delivers on-demand airframe spot-checks and nose-to-tail mapping for lease transitions and catastrophic hail damage scenarios.

CONSTANCE, GERMANY & RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, JULY 13, 2023

Over the past year, 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-Service (daaS) business has digitally mapped and reported over 10,000 dents across a dozen commercial aircraft. In response to growing market demand for such services 8tree is building a global network of service partners, while also scaling 8tree’s internal staffing. AMROS Global is the latest industry expert to join 8tree’s service network.

Starting July 13th, AMROS Global will become an 8tree Certified Service Partner offering on-demand airframe inspection service using dentCHECK, in central Europe.

“Together with 8tree, we will be able to further extend our innovative, integrated solution offering for technical management of aircraft, following. With dentCheck-as-a-Service, we will provide a never seen before structural inspection service, revolutionizing the way we perceive quality in measurement, analysis and reporting of structural damages on aircraft of all types – be it for scheduled or unscheduled inspections,” said Eros Tavani, CEO at AMROS Global.

“We are delighted to welcome AMROS to 8tree’s global service network”, said Howard Chung, Applications Engineering Manager at 8tree. “AMROS’ proven track-record in managing aviation assets coupled with 8tree’s widely adopted 3D dent-mapping tools, is certain to deliver faster aircraft turn-around-times for the industry”

The dentCHECK platform is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs. It can also be found integrated into drones and robotic automation cells. Leading Airlines & MROs across the Commercial, Military, Cargo and Business aviation sectors use 8tree’s dentCHECK tool and 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-service for mapping aircraft damage and creating detailed SRM-compliant digital damage reports.

With integrated AR, dentCHECK empowers the aircraft technician with instant, actionable measurements for critical airframe damage while boosting consistency (18x), accuracy (20x), efficiency (90% time-savings) and eliminating human-subjectivity, compared to traditional manual inspection methods. dentCHECK delivers precision measurements ‘as simple as taking a photo’, and enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

Learn how dozens of airlines/MROs are using dentCHECK by reading our customer testimonials.

About 8tree
8tree tools, technology and services boost your production quality with precision 3D measurement that is as simple as taking a photo.
With built-in AR, 8tree’s tools empower operators of every skill-level to achieve accurate, consistent, and actionable inspection results within seconds.

For more information, visit 8-tree.com.
For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

About AMROS Global

We are a Flight and Ground Operations services company founded in Michigan in 1998 to serve the military and the commercial aviation world. Today, we are proud to have our own team of talented engineers and mechanics who log an average of 1,200 man-hours every day in support of aircraft maintenance tasks with clients in 4 continents.

For more information, visit amrosglobal.aero.
For recent news, follow AMROS Global on LinkedIn.

Download Press Release as PDF
Download Press-Kit

VS Aviation partners with 8tree to offer dentCHECK-as-a-service

By Newsroom, Press

8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-Service program grows with the addition of VS Aviation as an 8tree Certified Service Partner.

dentCHECK-as-a-Service delivers on-demand airframe spot-checks and nose-to-tail mapping for lease transitions and catastrophic hail damage scenarios.

CONSTANCE, GERMANY & RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 21

Over the past year, 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-Service (daaS) business has digitally mapped and reported over 10,000 dents across a dozen commercial aircraft.  In response to growing market demand for such services, 8tree is building a global network of service partners, while also scaling 8tree’s internal service staff.  VS Aviation is the latest industry services expert to join 8tree’s service network.

Beginning August 2023, VS Aviation became an 8tree Certified Service Partner offering dentCHECK powered on-demand airframe inspection service in the Middle East.

“Love at first sight” was the immediate response from Samer Karadsheh, Director Flight Ops Engineering, when his wife and business partner engineer; Lara Obeid, CTO, came across 8tree’s profile at MRO Europe in 2021. “This is an ingenious solution to a problem that the whole aviation industry deals with, and I personally experienced it first-hand as an Aircraft Structures Engineer dealing with aircraft skin damage”, said Samer. VS Aviation LLC is an aircraft maintenance contractor and, along with 8tree’s support, we are excited to bring dentCHECK-as-a-Service (daaS) to our clients in the Middle East. “A solution like no other”, says Lara Obeid, as evident in the reaction on the engineers’ and sheet metal mechanics faces when their dent reporting challenge is solved with a single “click”.

“VS Aviation’s deep technical understanding of the airframe has established their reputation with global aviation maintenance customers”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO at 8tree.  “We are delighted to have them join 8tree’s global service network.  The combination of VS Aviation and 8tree’s 3D dent-mapping service is certain to empower customers in the region with accelerated turn-around-times and digitalized damage-records.”

The dentCHECK platform is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs. It can also be found integrated into drones and robotic automation cells. Leading Airlines & MROs across the Commercial, Military, Cargo and Business aviation sectors use 8tree’s dentCHECK tool and 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-service for mapping aircraft damage and creating detailed SRM-compliant digital damage reports.

With integrated AR, dentCHECK empowers the aircraft technician with instant, actionable measurements for critical airframe damage while boosting consistency (18x), accuracy (20x), efficiency (90% time-savings) and eliminating human-subjectivity, compared to traditional manual inspection methods.  dentCHECK delivers precision measurements ‘as simple as taking a photo’, and enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

Learn how dozens of airlines/MROs are using dentCHECK by reading our customer testimonials.

About 8tree
8tree tools, technology and services boost your production quality with precision 3D measurement that is as simple as taking a photo.
With built-in AR, 8tree’s tools empower operators of every skill-level to achieve accurate, consistent, and actionable inspection results within seconds.

For more information, visit 8-tree.com.
For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

About VS Aviation
We are a Flight and Ground Operations services company founded in Michigan in 1998 to serve the military and the commercial aviation world. Today, we are proud to have our own team of talented engineers and mechanics who log an average of 1,200 man-hours every day in support of aircraft maintenance tasks with clients in 4 continents.

Download Press Release as PDF
Download Press-Kit

 

8tree unveils dentCHECK2

By Newsroom, Press
dentCHECK2 builds on the success of it’s predecessor to expedite dent-mapping on aircraft worldwide. dentCHECK2 debuts publicly at MRO Americas, April 18-20, Atlanta, USA, booth #4745.

Over the past decade, 8tree’s dentCHECK has successfully defined a new industry category for application-specific 3D surface inspection tools.  Now, with over 150 systems deployed globally among more than 4-dozen customers, 8tree is launching the next-generation – dentCHECK2.

“Everything we do at 8tree is shaped by insights from our customers – the world’s leading MROs, Airlines and OEMs; our next-gen dentCHECK offering is no exception”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO, 8tree.  “By redesigning the tool around our successfully established measurement engine, we continue to build on our core principles of simplicity, usability and efficiency. This enables us to deliver instantly actionable precision 3D measurements within seconds, at the push of a single button.  Some of the numerous improvements include significantly more compact form-factor, lighter weight, built-in LTE connectivity, zero setup time and a streamlined UX.  Stop by booth #4745 at MRO Americas to get a hands-on demonstration of dentCHECK2”.

The dentCHECK platform is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry, and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer). It can also be found integrated into drones and robotic automation cells.  Leading Airlines & MROs across the Commercial, Military, Cargo and Business aviation sectors use 8tree’s dentCHECK tool and 8tree’s dentCHECK-as-a-service for mapping aircraft damage and creating detailed SRM-compliant digital damage reports.

From spot-checks, to hail-damage assessment, to nose-to-tail inspections during lease returns/redeliveries, dentCHECK empowers operators to assess airframe damage up to 90% faster and with 35x greater measurement accuracy and consistency than traditional methods.  This has a direct impact on reducing Turn-around-Times and boosts operational efficiency.  dentCHECK enhances safety through an improved understanding of airframe reliability.

Learn how dozens of airlines/MROs are using dentCHECK by reading our customer testimonials.

About 8tree

8tree tools, technology and services boost your production quality with precision 3D measurement that is as simple as taking a photo.

With built-in AR, 8tree’s tools empower operators of every skill-level to achieve accurate, consistent, and actionable inspection results within seconds.

For more information, visit 8-tree.com.

For recent news follow 8tree on LinkedIn.

“Everything we do at 8tree is shaped by insights from our customers – the world’s leading MROs, Airlines and OEMs; our next-gen dentCHECK offering is no exception”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO, 8tree.

AMC 2022 – dentCHECK vs. Traditional Methods

By Case Study, dentCHECK, Events, Insights

What is the Aerospace Maintenance Competition?

The Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) is a 2-day competition held in conjunction with the annual MRO Americas organized by Aviation Week. It is a global get-together for the aerospace community to showcase, to compete, and to celebrate the skilled craft of aviation technicians. After a 2-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMC returned in 2022 with a bang. There were 73 teams from various categories – Commercial Airlines, Military, Repair & Manufacturing, and Schools. This year, 8tree and Alaska Airlines once again co-sponsored the “Airframe Damage Inspection” event, one of the 24+ events available at the competition.

What is the “Airframe Damage Inspection” event?

Simply put, the objective of the event is to – “Accurately map two dents using traditional methods, and then repeat the task using dentCHECK”. For the traditional method, competitors were provided with a: depth gauge, straight-edge ruler, flashlight, calculator, pen, and paper. Using these tools, they were required to map the dents, producing these measurements: Depth (Y), Width (A), Length (B), Critical Ratio (A/Y), and the distance between dents. Then, they had to transcribe these numbers on their ‘task card’ – similar to the traditional, paper-based records that the aviation industry still produces. Once they have completed this, they will use the dentCHECK tool to measure the same dents. This is a simple task – With one-click, the tool will measure all the aforementioned numbers, and instantaneously project the results back onto the surface. With the result superimposed on the physical damaged aircraft panel, competitors were able to see the measurements and make a decision, while the result remains in digital format.

How did the competitors fare against each other?

The performance of the competitors was widespread. Some completed the tasks in <5 minutes, while some were unable to complete the task within the allocated 15 minutes. Additionally, the precision of the measurement results was also widespread. For example, across 73 teams, the uncertainty of depth measurement using traditional method was +/- 0.016”. This means that one could measure depth of 0.050”, while another could measure up to 0.082”! This is a huge discrepancy that is plaguing the standards of aviation maintenance, and hence jeopardizing aviation safety. In contrast, when competitors use dentCHECK, the uncertainty was +/- 0.0008”, a 20x improvement when compared to traditional methods.

The results using Traditional Method is shocking. Why is this a problem?

During the competition, we observed 3 top errors that is contributing to this problem. First, incorrect tool handling will yield incorrect results. We observed some competitors incorrectly placed the depth gauge at an incorrect angle or position, while some fail to zero-out the tool properly. Additionally, the subjectivity of determining the starting and end point of a dent’s outline using the naked eye also contributes to this problem. Secondly, some competitors produced incomplete measurement, and skipped crucial steps necessary to produce accurate, complete measurement. Lastly, we observed many record-keeping errors. For example, to calculate the critical ratio, some competitors fail to type in the correct number on the calculator, hence producing bad measurement. In a fast-paced work environment like aviation maintenance, using these tactile tools will undoubtedly produce inaccurate measurement.

How similar is the competition to a ‘real-life’ aviation maintenance industry?

All the events at the competition were very relevant to the aviation maintenance industry. In this industry, turn-around-time (TaT) of an aircraft is of paramount importance. Aircraft maintenance technicians are not just tasked with doing the job right, but they have to perform under time pressure. The competition simulates just that when they only have 15 minutes to complete a certain task. In the “Airframe Damage Inspection” event, we create an opportunity for competitors to be equipped with a tool – dentCHECK – that will help them accomplish both objectives: (i) Accurately measure a dent-damage (ii) Do it in the fastest way possible. In this year’s competition, competitors took 8 minutes 49 seconds to map the dents using traditional method, but took only 11 seconds to map the dents using dentCHECK, a 48x faster inspection time. The competition provides a small snippet of the burden placed upon the maintenance technicians, and how continuous improvement and learning of new tools can help them become more efficient.

What are the benefits for airlines, MROs, and schools to participate in such competition?

The AMC was truly an engaging platform for aviation technicians to come together to exchange ideas and to get inspired. One of the big issues in the industry today is the aging workforce problem, whereby juniority across the workforce with limited exposure and experience may pose a threat to effective and timely maintenance of aircraft fleet in the future. 8tree hopes to bridge this gap of skillset between retiring workforce and new technicians by introducing technology that will simplify the cumbersome process of precision measurement. Additionally, the platform is a good avenue to build existing professional connection and to make new ones. You never know who you will meet at the competition!

Where can others find more about the key findings from this competition?

Some example measurement and photos can be found here. There you can find the detailed analysis of the competition results.