Peerless soft interior competence

Citation

(2008), "Peerless soft interior competence", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780ead.027

Peerless soft interior competence

Article Type: Materials From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 80, Issue 5

Lantal Textiles, a leading single-source provider of soft interiors for the aviation industry, demonstrated its key strengths as a true one-stop-shop at the recent Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, visitors found the latest innovations for peerless, support-backed soft interior solutions. A speciality is Lantal’s new carpet quality with a self-adhesive backing - reported to be one of the first carpets world-wide that is qualified for the B787 Dreamliner.

Representing the full scope of its comprehensive all-in-one philosophy, Lantal showcased its latest innovations and developments in textiles, ready-made products, design competence, lab services, and pneumatic seat cushions. As a production organisation according to EASA regulations Part 21, Subpart G, Lantal is able to provide an EASA Form One with each physical delivery of ready-made parts.

Lantal’s design team has introduced the Conceptional Forecast 2008 for fabrics and carpets to provide design inspiration for its customers. The focus lies on close-ups of designs and translates the idea of zooming in on details into inimitable textile creations.

Lantal’s designers experimented with glossy and mouline materials and combined warm discreet tones with trendy effect colours. New materials and varying structures, small repeats, grid patterns, and overlapping effects produce an exciting overall impression. Flat woven and chenille fabrics are embossed to emulate a 3D effect with their interplay of patterns and structures.

High/deep impressions are also the main focus of the carpets that feature intriguing structures based on combining loop and cut piles or different floating weaves. Semi-transparent, pleatable curtains with delicate, generous designs play with different grades of transparency.

One of the first carpet suppliers for the B787 Dreamliner A special highlight in Hamburg is Lantal’s carpet with a new self-adhesive backing, developed especially for the B787 Dreamliner. An initial carpet quality designed by the Swiss company has been officially qualified by Boeing for this aircraft type, making Lantal one of the first carpet suppliers able to deliver products that fulfil the B787 specification.

Thus, they will be used exclusively in the first 14 aircraft deliveries, including the one for the launch customer. Furthermore, the Lantal carpet will be installed in every flight deck.

The Dreamliner carpet program systematically relies on ready-to-install products to streamline their installation. For that purpose, a self-adhesive backing is applied during the production process; it leaves almost no residues on the floor panels when the carpet is replaced. These carpets are a striking example of Lantal’s all-in-one philosophy, including not only premium textiles, but also their pre-cutting exactly to size and shape, installation solutions, product development and seamless customer support throughout the entire lifecycle.

With these advantages, ready-made products save time and reduce installation costs as well as administrative work.

Pneumatic systems: major programs approach commercialisation another novelty shown on the Lantal stand were three prototypes of a business class seat to demonstrate the full adaptability of pneumatic technology.

For the very first time, visitors were able to try out and compare the exceptional comfort of the pneumatic cushions in various seat positions. The firmness varies from harder in the fully upright position to medium while relaxing to softer in the full-flat sleeping mode.

Lantal is currently participating in commercial projects involving major European airline partners and premium seat manufacturers to integrate all-pneumatic cushion comfort systems into a novel business class full-flat seat and into a high-end first class suite, both to be launched commercially in early 2009. The cushions will play out all their advantages, from cost-saving low weight, passenger-controlled adaptive comfort, full lifetime functionality without degradation, and increased hygiene.

Co-operations for the commercialisation of the pneumatic cushion technology currently include Recaro, B/E Aerospace, Contour Premium Aircraft Seating, Jet Aviation and Dornier Technologie.

For further details please contact: Lantal Textiles, Tel.: +0041 629167171, Fax: 0041 629232532, E-mail: marianne.schuerch@lantal.ch, web site: www.lantal.ch