‘Our new component repair shop, APOC-CRS, starts with narrowbody NiCd battery MRO and further capabilities will be fast-tracked ’ says Danny Goergen, Workshop Manager
The Netherlands, December 20th 2022: APOC Component Repair Shop B.V. (APOC-CRS), Europe’s newest component repair shop, has secured EASA Part 145 approval for Airbus and Boeing narrowbody NiCd battery MRO. Located between Schiphol and Rotterdam airports, APOC-CRS is part of the APOC Aviation group of companies. As an approved repair facility for SAFT NiCd Batteries, APOC-CRS has the potential to quickly expand to other battery types including widebodies like the A330, and particularly Embraer batteries for regional aircraft operators servicing larger airport hubs in Europe.
The Part 145 process has taken a short 18 months to achieve - from the creation of the Maintenance Organization Exposition (MOE) - to investment in tooling, equipment, and MRO software. The recruitment and training of repair technicians has been crucial to APOC-CRS’ ambitious ramp-up and according to Danny Goergen, Workshop Manager, enthusiastic and multi-skilled people with a hands-on approach symbolise the work ethic and set the standards moving forwards. “We occupy modern facilities with ample room for expansion, storage, and ancillary services such as training,” says Goergen. “We have consciously built a replicable blueprint from scratch that we can ultimately emulate in other markets, such as the US.”
APOC-CRS is the perfect complement to APOC Aviation’s core business of the trading and leasing of modern narrowbody aircraft parts. All processes encompassing recovery, inspection, disassembly, repair, testing and re-certification will be streamlined to avoid commonplace pitfalls. “With years of experience sourcing, auditing, and managing repair shop relationships we wanted to explore and set up a separate MRO capability that engineered out the issues we face on a daily basis regarding quality and timely repairs” starting with battery capability, explains Max Lutje Wooldrik, Accountable Manager for APOC-CRS and CEO of APOC Aviation.
“We will have the capability to implement incisive solutions for supply-chain issues and provide critical and essential component piece parts underpinned by dynamic and up-to-date repair kits that are constantly updated with the data we collect via smart and automated measuring systems. This not only ensures quality and speed of battery repair and overhaul, but also fair and transparent pricing for customers.”
Goergen goes on to say that APOC-CRS will be working towards obtaining FAA Approval in the coming months and thereafter the CAAC approval, this will round-out the repair service to the industry.
“We have a clear plan and the ability to shape what we do to meet customer needs” he says. “Already we are being asked to look at specialist battery repair programmes for airlines and to take up shop overflow work from leading MROs. We foresaw this demand when we built the business case for setting up APOC-CRS as a separate business just over 2 years ago. We would like to acknowledge the excellent help and support of the Civil Aviation Authority Netherlands (CAA-NL) in securing our EASA Part 145 approval. As we embark on our steady journey to build the reputation for our new component repair shop we have a global footprint in our sights.”