První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš, a. s.[1] ("First Brno Engineering Plant", known as PBS VB) is a Czech engineering and manufacturing company. It focuses mainly on the development, testing, and production of devices for the aircraft industry.[2] Together with PBS Energo, a.s.;[3] PBS Brno, a.s.[4] and PBS Aerospace Inc.,[5] PBS VB is a member of PBS GROUP, a.s.[6]

První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš, a. s.
Company typeJoint-stock company
Industrymechanical engineering, aerospace, precision casting
Founded1950
HeadquartersVelká Bíteš
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Milan Macholan, CEO
ProductsJet engines, Auxiliary power units, Environmental control systems; Precision casting, Cryogenic, Electroplating services
Number of employees
800
ParentPBS Group, a.s. (100%)
Websitewww.pbs.cz/en/

History

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The history of PBS VB has been closely related to the company PBS Brno, originally founded in 1814 by Jan Reiff, who established a textile mill near Brno.[2] As the company was growing, new facilities were built. PBS VB was established in 1950 in Velká Bíteš, Czech Republic to support the industrial development of the region.

The first products produced in PBS VB were hammer drills and parts for mining and metallurgical pneumatic tools. In 1951 the production of fittings started.[7]

Modernisation and extension of the production capacities connected with an investment casting hall construction were finished in 1970. At the same time, the company entered the aviation world by developing an auxiliary power unit for Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft.[8]

After gaining experience in the technology of auxiliary power units and environmental control systems, in 2004 PBS VB expanded its product portfolio and included propulsion units – turbojet, turboshaft and turboprop engines for small manned or unmanned aircraft, UAVs and target drones.[9]

PBS VB delivers its products globally and since the 1970s more than 7,000 pieces of turbine equipment for the aerospace industry have been manufactured by PBS VB in total.[10]

Organization

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PBS VB is a member of the PBS GROUP composed of;

  • PBS Energo, a.s. active in the power industry
  • PBS Brno, a.s. providing services in relation to the construction of power generation and district heating units
  • PBS Aerospace Inc., a subsidiary of the PBS GROUP, is responsible for expanding the business activities in the field of aerospace technology, especially on the American markets
  • PBS Velká Bíteš, a. s. a manufacturer of power units and other equipment in the field of aerospace

PBS VB has its headquarters in the Czech Republic with other locations in the USA and India.[11]

The company is approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)[12] holding the DOA (Design Organization),[13] POA (Production Organization)[14] and MOA (Maintenance Organization)[15] approvals and is ISO 9001[16] and ISO 14001 certified.[17]

Among others, the PBS is a member of the DSIA (Defence and Security Industry Association Czech Republic)[18] and ALV Czech Republic (Association of the Czech Aerospace Industry).[19]

Products and services

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PBS VB specialises in the design and development of small jet engines for aircraft, UAVs and target drones;[20] auxiliary power units and environmental control systems for aircraft and helicopters along with all the connected manufacturing processes including precision casting, hi-tech machining of metals and subsequent assembly of finished products.[21]

Apart from aviation equipment, PBS VB offers products and services in areas of precision casting (turbine wheels, turbine blades, spinner disks for insulation wool and femoral components),[22] cryogenic technology (helium expansion turbines, compressors and pumps)[23] and electroplating services.

Aerospace products

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Turbojet engines

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Engine name Max thrust Outer diameter Length Weight
PBS TJ-20U[24] 230 N 121mm 316mm 1.98kg
PBS TJ40-G1[25] 395 N 147mm 304mm 3.3kg
PBS TJ40-G2 395 N 147mm 373mm 3.8kg
PBS TJ80-120[26] 1,200 N 235 mm 514mm 12.8kg
PBS TJ100[27] 1,300 N 272mm 625mm 19.5kg
PBS TJ150[28] 1,500 N 272mm 520mm 19.6kg
AI-PBS-350[29] 3400 N 298mm 706mm 51kg

Turboprop engines

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  • PBS TP100 – Max. power: 180 kW, electrical power output: 720 W, length: 891 mm, weight: 61.6 kg

Turboshaft engines

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  • PBS TS100ZA – Max. power: 180 kW, 5978 rpm, electrical power output: 720 W, length: 829 mm, weight: 56.7 kg
  • PBS TS100DA – Max. power: 180 kW, 2158 rpm, electrical power output: 720 W, length: 881 mm, weight: 61.3 kg[30]

Auxiliary power units

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SAFIR 5K/G MI
  • SAFIR 5K/G MI – power supply: 3x 115 V/200 V/ 400 Hz, max. bleed air: 28.3 kg/min, max. altitude: 6,000 m, weight: 64 kg. The unit is designed to deliver compressed air for starting the main engines and to supply AC to the deck network of medium heavy helicopters.
  • SAFIR 5K/G MIS – power supply: 28 V DC, max. bleed air: 28.3 kg/min, max. altitude: 6,000 m, weight: 57 kg. The unit is designed to deliver compressed air for starting the main engines and to supply AC to the deck network of medium heavy helicopters.
  • SAFIR 5L – max. bleed air: 32 kg/min, max. altitude: 8,000 m, weight: 42 kg. The unit is designed to supply compressed air for starting the main engines of subsonic light aircraft.
  • SAFIR 5K/G Z8 – power supply: 3x 115 V/200 V/ 400 Hz, max. altitude: 6,000 m, weight: 48.5 kg. The unit is designed to supply AC for starting the main engines, as well as to the deck network of medium heavy helicopter.

Environmental control systems

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All systems are designed for air-conditioning and ventilation of the main cockpit and other parts of the machine.[31]

Metallurgy and precision casting

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Turbine blades

PBS VB produces wheels, blades and components made predominantly from IN 713C, IN 713LC and MarM247, i.e. nickel and cobalt-based alloys:[32]

Turbine wheels (weight: 0.15 – 44 kg, dimensions: ø50 - ø400 mm).

Turbine blades and gas turbine segments (weight: 0.1 – 30 kg, length: 50 – 400 mm).

Spinner discs for the production of glass wool-based insulation made from nickel-based superalloys 141I or 2.4879, or of Co alloys. Alloy 141I is a developed directly in PBS for the spinners with long life durability.[33]

Femoral components (10 various types of cobalt-based knee replacements).[34]

References

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  1. ^ "Czech Business Register".
  2. ^ a b "Regional Online Magazine: #brnoregion".
  3. ^ "Czech Business Register".
  4. ^ "Czech Business Register".
  5. ^ "PBS Aerospace, inc. official website".
  6. ^ "Czech Business Register".
  7. ^ 55 let První brněnské strojírny ve Velké Bíteši (in Czech and English). Jiří Jeřábek. 2005. ISBN 80-254-3181-9.
  8. ^ "Aero Signed L-59 Overhauls Contracts". www.defense-aerospace.com. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  9. ^ Czech Trade Promotion Agency. "Czech Aviation Catalogue - online version" (PDF).
  10. ^ "The Czech aviation industry has good times ahead, Milan Macholán, director of PBS Velká Bíteš says (part II) | Czech Defence Journal". www.czdjournal.com (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  11. ^ Editor (2019-02-20). "Czech Turbine Propulsion Supplier PBS Enters Indian Market with Propulsion Units for Unmanned Aircraft". Raksha-Anirveda. Retrieved 2020-03-03. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ "EASA Certificate - available online" (PDF).
  13. ^ "DOA Certificate - available online" (PDF).
  14. ^ "POA Certificate - available online" (PDF).
  15. ^ "MOA Certificate - available online" (PDF).
  16. ^ "ISO Certificate - available online" (PDF).
  17. ^ "ISO Certificate - available online" (PDF).
  18. ^ "Asociace obranného a bezpečnostního průmyslu ČR – Member detail". Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  19. ^ "Asociace leteckých výrobců". www.alv-cr.cz. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  20. ^ "The Czech aviation industry has good times ahead, Milan Macholán, director of PBS Velká Bíteš says (part I) | Czech Defence Journal". www.czdjournal.com (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  21. ^ "Aiming high". Industry Europe. 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  22. ^ "PBS – Top European Investment Casting Foundry". www.foundry-planet.com (in German). 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  23. ^ Haruyama, T.; Mitsui, T.; Yamafuji, K. (1997-04-01). Proceedings of the Sixteenth International Cryogenic Engineering Conference/International Cryogenic Materials Conference. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-08-053975-1.
  24. ^ "PBS information pack" (PDF). PBS aerospace. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  25. ^ "PBS TJ-40". Minijets. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  26. ^ "Aeromag". www.aeromag.in. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  27. ^ "Jet in a Box". www.aopa.org. 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  28. ^ "PBS Velká Bíteš TJ150 turbojet engine delivers 150kg thrust in under 20kg". FINN - The Aviation Industry Hub | FINN. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  29. ^ "Turbine engine AI-PBS-350".
  30. ^ "Aeromag". www.aeromag.in. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  31. ^ "Environmental Control Systems of Airplanes and Helicopters". Czech Aerospace Proceedings. 1/2007.
  32. ^ "PBS – Top European Investment Casting Foundry". www.foundry-planet.com. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  33. ^ "Comparison of Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behaviour of Co-Base and Ni-Base Alloys - available online" (PDF).
  34. ^ "Femoral Components Market New Research Study Report with Size, Share, Trends, Emerging Applications, Opportunities and Worldwide Analysis with Regional Analysis 2019 to 2025". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2020-03-03.