Onwards and upwards Jihlavan

FLYING HIGH

Jihlavan is a traditional supplier of hydraulic components and precision parts for the aviation industry, mobile technology and medical applications. The company has undergone major changes in the past five years and now stands as a modern industrial enterprise, ready to seize new opportunities in the growing aviation sector. Romana Moares spoke to the company’s managing director, Mr Milan Daněk, about its plans for the future.

Founded in 1952, Jihlavan has developed into one of the major players in the Czech aviation industry with an increasing presence abroad. Over 10,000 aircraft have been equipped with Jihlavan’s hydraulics so far. Over the years, the company has built a reputation as a stable partner in the development, production and servicing of hydraulic power systems in aviation and civil engineering applications.

Jihlavan is a joint-stock company owned by a financially strong majority shareholder. It owns extensive technical facilities that allow it to pursue the development of new individual products as well as whole systems. Jihlavan’s development engineers took part in several major projects, such as the development of L-29, L-39, and L-159 military aircraft, and L 410, L 610, and Ae270 civil aircraft. More recent projects have included its participation in the EV-55 and CESAR programmes.

“The company has undergone significant changes in the past five years,” says the managing director. “We have completed an extensive facility modernisation to accommodate demanding aviation contracts from around the world. The product portfolio has also changed – the volume of aviation production has increased from 25 per cent to the current 75 per cent of total output.” And, last but not least, the company’s ownership structure was revised in 2015, the consequence of which has been an even stronger emphasis on the aviation business.

Core competence

In the aviation sector, Jihlavan is a traditional supplier of hydraulic components for flight controls, hydraulic power and landing gear systems for Czech aircraft, such as the Turbolet L 410, for which it is the leading supplier of over 20 components. Furthermore, in the Czech Republic, Jihlavan participates in the certification process for EV 55 aircraft by supplying and testing instrumentation.

More recently, the company has engaged in the activities of the European supply chain, delivering hydraulic components according to customers’ documentation (BTP / BTO production) to the civil

aviation industry. “We signed important contracts with two major companies, which in 2016 will account for about 25 per cent of total sales,” says Mr Daněk.

In the non-aviation (decreasing) business Jihlavan continues to develop and make components for hydraulic circuits for mobile applications such as trucks, tractors, medical technology and others. “An important part of our portfolio is also the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) business. Our main competence in this area is the instrumentation refurbishment for the L39 and L410 programmes and repairs and testing of hydraulic components for the B737 Classic and, more recently, for B737 NG,” he explains.

Modern facility

Jihlavan’s production technologies include modern numerically controlled lathes, machining centres, grinding and boring machines and other technology required for the production of precision parts for the aviation industry. The company’s premises include a thermal treatment facility, metallographic laboratory, coating shop and galvanic treatment processes. “The vast majority of special processes have been certified according to Nadcap (internationally recognised certificate for the aviation industry), which only a handful of Czech companies operating in this sector acquired,” points out Mr Daněk. Jihlavan is also equipped with a modern facility for aviation instrumentation assembly as well as special components testing stations required for the Airbus, CASA and Boeing programmes.

Investment in technology has been an integral part of the company’s growth; the latest machine acquisitions have included multi-functional

CNC machining centres, CNC grinding and boring machines, a five-axis machining centre for aluminium materials and special equipment for galvanic treatment, coating and thermal processing.

In the near future, the company intends to continue with the process of technology modernisation. Planned purchases include a special machining centre for the new production of Airbus A 350 actuators and a measuring microscope to accelerate inter-operation inspection as well as to reduce overall lead times.

Facing the future

Mr Daněk confirms that the aviation sector is growing, with a lot of Czech companies trying to capitalise on this trend. “Jihlavan started to prepare for this development five years ago and this has helped us to stay ahead. As sales from newly introduced aviation programmes are starting to increase, we are now able to reap the first fruit of our past efforts.”

Jihlavan’s exports currently account for about 55 per cent of total sales and are increasing, particularly as a result of recently signed contracts with Spanish and French business partners. “We have customers all over the world but our main territories are France and Spain, where we deliver precision parts for aircraft engines and door mechanisms within the Airbus and CASA programmes,” says Mr Daněk.

He confirms that Jihlavan will continue to forge its market position as a trusted and stable business partner. “We want to maintain the excellent level of on-time deliveries for our Spanish partner and, by the end of 2016, achieve the same status for the French customer so we can further develop our reputation as a top quality producer of hydraulic components. In 2017, we want to continue these efforts with the launch of new actuator production for the A 350 programme.”

He concludes by stating that by 2020 the company is aiming to double EBITA and increase total turnover by 75 per cent. These ambitious plans are set to further cement this traditional Czech manufacturer’s position as an indispensable player in the European aviation sector. n