Setting the agenda for interiors

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polly

Polly Magraw, exhibition manager of Aircraft Interiors Expo provides an overview to outline what visitors can expect to see on show during this year’s event.

Now in its eighteenth year, The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) has firmly established itself as the show that sets the agenda for the aircraft interiors sector and is a must-attend event for airlines and suppliers from across the industry.

Once again, this year’s event takes place at the Hamburg Messe, from 4-6 April, and welcomes over 500 showcasing companies. Among them are 55 new exhibitors, many of which will be in the IFEC (Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity) Zone, now the world’s largest event dedicated to in-flight entertainment and connectivity, content and service providers. With a wealth of exhibitors from across the supply chain and more than 1,000 airline executives expected to attend, the event promises to be a showcase of the best of the aircraft interiors sector.

AIX takes place at a time of continued growth for the global airline sector. Airline share prices have increased by almost 7% over the past year and industry-wide passenger traffic grew by over 6% in 2016 with passenger numbers expected to double over the next 20 years, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In addition, it expects the global airline industry to make a net profit of nearly $30 billion in 2017. The continued increase in passenger numbers is a key factor in the ever-growing demand for an improved inflight experience.

The connected journey

According to the IATA’s 2016 Global Passenger Survey, the inflight experience is of paramount importance to those aged under 24. Specifically, this age group now expect to have the same connectivity in the air as on the ground, highlighting the need for continued airline investment to meet passenger needs.

If this connectivity were available onboard, 51% of passengers would use their own device when streaming content. They would also use the service for other purposes with 30% using it to send and receive emails, 23% to instant message and 22% to browse the internet.

Airlines and the wider industry are clearly recognising this, with spend on IFEC alone expected to reach $6bn between now and the end of the decade. Companies are also increasingly focusing their efforts on collaborating with their peers to fulfil passenger expectations when it comes to inflight entertainment. Seat manufacturers are working with IFEC, galleys and other components providers, using the combined expertise of different manufacturers to design integrated products which enhance the passenger experience.

The importance of integrating IFEC more fully into the aircraft cabin and improving the overall passenger experience is reflected in the continued growth of the wider interiors market, which is currently worth around US$7bn. This growth shows no signs of slowing; estimates suggest it will continue to grow at 7% per year until the end of the decade.

With sector spending increasing, manufacturers are breaking boundaries when it comes to delivering the best possible experience for passengers. Innovations on show at AIX include heated stone flooring and environmentally friendly aircraft lavatories, amenities that could be closer to fruition than your average airline passenger might think. The world of private jets has also seen brands collaborating to produce aircraft cabins which are akin to swish hotels rather than aircraft interiors, and Crystal Cabin Awards entries include welcome innovations for travellers, such as seats that can be adjusted to create more leg room.

AIX is part of the wider Passenger Experience Week and follows the Passenger Experience Conference, which kicks-off the week on the 3rd April. The following day will also see the opening of World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo, which is co-located with AIX at the Hamburg Messe.

Together, these three events create the platform for the industry to discuss and determine the future of the aircraft cabin: from seats to in-flight entertainment and connectivity, in-flight hospitality to retail – the overall passenger experience.

 

It’s what’s inside that counts

Aerospace Manufacturing begins its preview of exhibitors at the show with the Mini Gears Group’s (www.minigears.co.uk) Aerospace Division. On stand 1B12, the company will showcase the range of machined parts it now manufactures for both business class seating and pilot seats, including privacy screen components, racks, gears,
pinions, table latches, table plates, carriage plate support hinges, seat supports and slide mounts. With an in-depth knowledge of materials and rack and pinion design, Mini Gears has enabled its customers to offer a smoother ride on their aircraft seats, together with reducing manufacturing costs by up to 50% giving them a competitive edge.

Moving on, Heilind (www.heilind.de), a global specialist in interconnect and electromechanical solutions will be exhibiting on stand 4UB11, to offer in-depth product knowledge and experience on the strongest performance requirements of interconnect and e-mech. Connectors are precision mechanical devices whose interfaces are critical and always subject to mechanical wear, so a thorough understanding of the different construction techniques that are proven to consistently perform in harsh environments is essential. The demand for high reliability products increases every year in the complete electronic related markets. This is especially true for the aerospace industry, where there is a demand for shielding in relation to higher currents and data rates that require specialist solutions to ensure the accuracy of the applications and sensible data. Heilind offers a broad range of custom products, as well as its own connector production and cable manufacture. This allows for bespoke solutions, flexible production and the closest collaboration with customers. All of this is underscored by core values of the highest customer service levels, no MOQ restriction, the highest availability and speed of delivery.

Elsewhere, on stand 5B60, AIM Altitude’s (www.aimaltitude.com) stand design will be structured around a development project, within which two areas will be created. One will provide a concept Door 2 entrance, and the other, a practical product: one being a creative element, the other, an offerable product; both illustrating AIM Altitude’s design, engineering and manufacturing techniques and capabilities. The physical product being displayed is an exciting proposition too, with numerous new features. These developments to the product have come about from customer interaction, where AIM Altitude has designed and engineered features to meet specific customer demands. The exact details, however, will remain under wraps until the show itself.

Meanwhile, Mankiewicz (www.mankiewicz.com) will present its antimicrobial FST-coating at the show on stand 7E40 and will offer a demonstration of how effectively the coating system reduces bacterial growth. With this coating the costs of disinfection are reduced and fewer cleaning cycles are needed without any toxic side effects. At the same time, Mankiewicz’s ALEXIT-coatings comply reliably with internal fire protection regulations, even surpass the strict FST requirements and are available in a broad variety of colour shades. This is said to make the coating system unique across the entire industry and will allow airlines not only a hygienic add-on for their marketing, but also full freedom to design their interiors and differentiate from others. At Airbus and Boeing, Mankiewicz’s antimicrobial coatings are already applied as standard for the lavatories of some new aircraft models. Mankiewicz will also showcase a selection of latest colour and effect trends in cabin interior paint and present many ways for users being more cost efficient in paint.

Our show roundup ends with photoluminescent lighting specialist, STG Aerospace (www.stgaerospace.com). During the show, its new range of aircraft cabin lighting products will be on display in a life-size model cabin. The company’s new liTeMood LED reading light is an example of its commitment to human-centric lighting. The plug-and-play LED emits a square light that defines the passenger’s personal space. This uniform light relaxes the passenger and gives them more control over their environment. Visitors to the STG Aerospace stand 6A28 can also experience saf-Tglo blu, the world’s first blue-glowing photoluminescent floor path marking system. saf-Tglo blu is an example of how STG Aerospace continues to invest in product development and bridges the gap between safety-critical performance and cabin aesthetics.

www.aircraftinteriorsexpo.com

 

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