News & Image Source: FACC
Airbus has been placing its trust in the innovations and services of FACC for several years. Since 1990 FACC has been supplying the A320 aircraft models with overhead stowage compartments and ceiling panels. This strategic partnership is now being further expanded. Now the entrance area for the most successful Airbus aircraft family is also being manufactured by the Upper Austrian aerospace group. This comprises the entire lining of the entrance area as well as the door area including the ceiling panels in the front, middle and rear sections of the aircraft.
The project introduces a new technology: the Upper Austrian aerospace group is investing several million euros in a highly automated production line and creating an additional 100 highly qualified jobs.
“This continuation and expansion of the strategic partnership between Airbus and FACC is proof that we are further expanding our technology leadership. We deliver complete innovative solutions and our partner Airbus can place its confidence in us, our know-how, our customer orientation and our reliability,“ says Robert Machtlinger, CEO of FACC.
“Our product is the first component the passenger sees when boarding. First impressions count and we ensure that the unique aesthetics chosen by Airbus and the high feel-good ambience of the new airspace cabin are implemented in a technically high-quality design," explains Robert Braunsberger, FACC Vice President of Interiors.
FACC is investing in its plants to produce a state-of-the-art entrance area for Airbus.
“We will invest several million euros in expanding our production, above all in highly automated technologies. But this is also a commitment to our location and to our crew," commented Machtlinger.
Production will focus on SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) technology which generates a noticeable cost reduction compared to similar products manufactured using conventional processes.
“Investing in the SMC production line will be worthwhile and we will subsequently also offer other applications and assemblies using this process,“ Machtlinger said.
Aircraft cabin interior composites market is projected to grow at a healthy rate over the next five years, says Stratview Research
Stratview Research, in its recently launched market research report, has estimated that the global aircraft cabin interior composites market will reach US$ 1,891.1 million in 2023. According to the report, there are a series of directions where the aircraft industry is moving today with the purpose to modernize cabin interiors by satisfying three major criteria: commercial viability, certification, and passenger experience. Some of the most noticeable movements are the development of lightweight customized cabin solutions in order to improve the overall customer experience, an enlargement of overhead stowage bins to accommodate more luggage per stowage bin, the formation of maximum cabin space by making necessary change in the design of galleys and lavatories to squeeze more number of seats on board, and the development of compact seats to add more seats. Composite parts are an indispensable focus area for all the major tier-players making cabin interior systems, such as lavatory, galleys, to make the system lightweight, aesthetically excellent without sacrificing performance.
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