PRODUCT FOCUS: PAINT REMOVERS T The Automated Paint Robot functions like an Inkjet printer. XYREC he aircraft repainting process uses harmful chemicals that damage the environment and human health. Peter Boeijink, president and CEO of Xyrec, said he saw employees stripping paint off an aircraft 10 years ago and started working on a solution that was not as harmful to the environment or employees. Stripping the Paint Xyrec's Laser Coating Removal Robot eliminates the need for chemicals during the paint stripping process. The technology evaporates and combusts the paint; the paint effluent is immediately vacuumed from the surface and passed through a filtration system. The system features a built-in, closed-loop color recognition and control system, which allows it to strip metal and composite surfaces. A single operator can control the robot from a separate room. " We selected a laser system so fast that it is faster than the current process, " Boeijink said. " It's about 50 percent faster than the current process of removing paint from an aircraft, " he continued, adding that the Laser Coating Removal Robot can strip an aircraft in about one to two days, depending on the size of the plane. This technology eliminates the need for one cubic meter of chemicals and 15 cubic meters of fresh water per wide body, according to Boeijink. He said it will allow for the aircraft painting industry to move away from the " ugly process " it's currently using. " It's dripping [chemicals] with the paint to the floor of the hangar. They have to clean it up with a lot of water. They have to clean the aircraft very carefully 34 JUNE/JULY 2021 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY