Aircraft upcycling with the JustLaser laser engraver

To produce the aircrafttags, it was clear from the outset that laser technology would have to be used.

The "skin" of an aircraft is exposed to great stresses. Temperatures of minus 40 to plus 40 degrees, plus speeds of 1,000 km/h, lightning strikes, collisions with birds, and much more prove that it is one of the most robust components in an aircraft.

The company's four-person team specializes in the upcycling of aircraft. Active as pilots themselves, the people behind the brand "aircrafttag" know the aircraft and the environmental issues around it. Since the topics of sustainability and environmental protection are very important to the owners, they wanted to combine these two points with their enthusiasm for aviation. This gave rise to the idea of aircrafttags, which are created as key rings, luggage tags or glass coasters from original aircraft fuselages.

Painted aircraft aluminum is processed for this purpose. "We cut the shape of the key rings and glass coasters from the aircraft fuselage using a waterjet. The finished shape is engraved with details about the aircraft (type, year of manufacture, last flight, registration,..)," says Managing Director Ralph Wansch, explaining the production procedure. In addition, personalization of the aircraft tags is also possible.

The clientele for aircrafttags is broad. Airlines, companies in the aviation industry, collectors. "Our tags are used as gifts for customers, employees, guests or as collectors' items," the managing director of Aviation Upcycling is enthusiastic.

Initially, the company used a service provider for the engraving work, but now it uses a JustLaser laser engraver and laser cutter. The challenge in connection with the laser process is also quite special for the specific application, as Ralph Wansch explains: "Each aircraft paint is different in quality and thickness. Therefore, a separate laser setting must be found for each individual aircraft. This can take several hours in some circumstances."

To make the aircrafttags, it was clear from the outset that laser technology would have to be used. "There is no alternative for us," says Wansch. "It was only by using our own laser that we were able to reduce costs to a level that allowed us to grow."

Ralph Wansch definitely does not regret the decision to purchase a JustLaser laser engraver. "We switched from contract manufacturing to our own laser. The costs are around 10% of the contract manufacturing costs. During the laser time, other steps are performed at the same time, which again means an increase in efficiency."

The cooperation with JustLaser went smoothly from the very beginning. Ralph Wansch feels more than just confirmed in his decision: "The main reason for choosing JusLaser was the immediate availability, the top customer service and the perfect support.