LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN FOR AVIATION – SHOWTIME IN PARIS!
PARIS/LE BOURGET | There is hardly any other metropolis that has so many well-known nicknames: ‘City of Love’, ‘City of Light’ or ‘City of Fashion’. Be that as it may, from 16 to 22 June, the French capital was the world centre of the aerospace industry. And the LEIBER Group also made a soft landing there.
The world's leading trade fair, the Paris Air Show, brought together the who's who of the international aerospace industry at Le Bourget Airport and impressed visitors on every day of the show with a breathtaking flight programme. But it was also worth staying on the ground. There were plenty of innovations to marvel at in the exhibition halls and chalets. Right in the middle of it all: the LEIBER lightweight construction crew. As part of the joint stand of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI e.V.), LEIBER was represented in good company with a compact presentation and showcased lightweight aluminium construction: either bionically designed and classically forged for large series or machined from solid material for prototypes and small series.
Maximum strength combined with minimum weight has always been in demand, particularly in civil aviation, as a low aircraft weight enables greater payloads to be carried or longer flight ranges to be achieved. Increasing sustainability requirements are reinforcing this trend. LEIBER brings its comprehensive expertise in forging, machining and materials technology relating to aluminium – in short: its AluBility® – to bear here. This is particularly the case for weight-optimised, high-strength seat components or in hydraulic applications.
LEIBER hydraulic block provides greater lift
For example, LEIBER is represented in the commercial jets of the successful Airbus A320 family. Its latest model, the A321XLR for up to 244 passengers, was also on display at Le Bourget. A hydraulic block manufactured at the LEIBER Group's headquarters in Emmingen-Liptingen is part of the flap control system in this jet. It helps to move the trailing edge flaps on the rear of the wings, which are important for providing additional lift during take-off and landing. To ensure that this works smoothly, the highest level of technical precision is required in the manufacture of hydraulic components. The LEIBER Group relies on ECM deburring technology for this purpose. This is an electrochemical process in which the finest burrs within the complex mechanically machined hydraulic components are removed and rinsed out without leaving any residue.
Bionic design and optimised aluminium alloys for aircraft seats
The highlight of the small but impressive LEIBER exhibition stand was a mock-up of an aircraft seat row. The bionically shaped seat spreaders, which are not normally visible in the fully assembled seat, were shown off to great effect here. They are a prime example of AluBility®, LEIBER's comprehensive experience in aluminium processing: thanks to their lightweight design, material-saving net-shape forging and high-precision mechanical machining. The use of application-optimised aluminium alloys, specifically AluSpace® in the aerospace sector, completes the picture.
High security measures accompany the trade fair
In view of the current tense global political situation, security measures at this year's Paris Air Show were particularly high. According to the French organiser SIAE, the major event attracted more than 305,000 visitors in 2025. 2,400 international exhibitors showcased how their innovations are advancing aviation and space travel. However, the fact that the LEIBER Group has reached a good altitude here is no reason for us to ‘take off’: we will continue to support our customers as a down-to-earth company and reliable partner for innovative aluminium lightweight construction.
The LEIBER team before the start of another day at the trade fair in Paris/Le Bourget. The seat spreader mock-up in the foreground, with its bionically designed components, was an ideal ‘door opener’ that sparked many conversations with trade visitors.
In the five exhibition halls, many suppliers had some very impressive exhibits on display, such as the landing gear of an Airbus. The topic of lightweight construction was omnipresent: less aircraft weight means more payload and/or range.
Many of the aircraft on display outdoors were freely accessible. The Airbus A321XLR from Riyadh Air is a new member of the A320 family. LEIBER lightweight construction is used in this successful family of aircraft for short and medium-haul flights in the form of forged and elaborately machined aluminium hydraulic blocks. The components are part of the hydraulic system for controlling the lift aids.
In addition to the large ‘birds’, the numerous business jets on display outside also demonstrated that aviation is booming. Jets such as the elegant Falcon 6X from Dassault Aviation or comparable models from other manufacturers offer potential for the use of forged lightweight aluminium construction. This can demonstrate its advantages in terms of weight and strength in components for the landing gear, seating or flap control, for example.
When an event is called an ‘air show,’ it's worth looking up at the sky: the flight demonstrations that took place above the visitors' heads in the afternoon were thrilling – from quiet, ultra-light electric aircraft to military jets that shook the air with their screeching afterburner engines. Historical aircraft were also on display, such as the Fouga ‘Magister’ training aircraft, which European jet pilots used to gain their first experience with jet-powered aircraft in the 1950s and 1960s. Even back then, lightweight construction was the key to outstanding flight performance.
As part of the acrobatic flight demonstrations, show fog also created a little bit of ‘love is in the air’.