The typical civil aircraft can accommodate between 120 and nearly 700 passengers, with the Airbus A318 being the most accommodating and the Airbus A380 being the least accommodating aircraft.
Aircraft seats can range in weight from 10 kg (economy) to more than 20 kg (wide-body), depending on their configuration. Because the data indicates that lighter seat designs are critical to an airline's commercial performance, particularly in times of rising fuel prices, seat masses ranging from 1200kg to 14000kg are clearly indicated on the flight manifest.
Today's aircraft seat designers have a plethora of materials to choose from in order to meet the structural and aesthetically pleasing requirements of the aircraft seat. Metal alloys, including ferrous and nonferrous alloys, are included in this category of materials, among other things. This type of material can be produced using a variety of processes, depending on the specific needs of the customer. These processes can include forging and casting processes, as well as pressing, machining, and extrusions.
The designer's ultimate goal is to create a seat that is lightweight, manufacturable, and commercially viable while also meeting the mechanical strength requirements necessary to withstand the rigorous testing and certification procedures that are required.
Our company, Investacast, has more than 35 years of experience in supplying the aircraft seating industry with high-precision structural investment castings, forgings, and pressure die castings that are both lightweight and strong in order to meet the needs of the aircraft seating industry.
For the most part, the seat structure is fabricated from 17-4PH stainless steel investment castings, which are renowned for their high strength and long-lasting durability. In some areas, the precision of our precision casting technique allows us to produce castings with extremely thin walls; in some cases, the walls can be as thin as 1.5mm in some areas. For the structural components of the seat that are subjected to high demands, this grade of steel is widely recognized as the most suitable alloy. It has a mechanical strength greater than 1100 MPa and excellent ductility.
The closed die forging method is typically used to manufacture other seat components, such as food tray arms and slides, in addition to seat arms and slides. The closed die forging method is typically used to manufacture high-strength aluminum 7075T6 grade food tray arms and slides. When it comes to these aesthetically and mechanically demanding applications, Investacast provides finished machined and anodized products that are ready to be used right away. In addition to these products, Investacast provides a variety of other services and solutions.
In the seat, for example, pressure die casting products made of aluminum alloys such as A380 and A356 can be used to create armrest pivots and food tray arms that are both structurally and aesthetically demanding. It is an excellent choice for aircraft seating manufacturers because of its ability to achieve tight tolerances and an excellent surface finish, as well as the repeatability of the process.
Because of Investacast's global network of suppliers, the aircraft seating manufacturer is able to provide the most cost-effective commercial solution possible to its customers.
As well, we recognize that we play a critical role in a number of critical supply chains, and that the continued availability of our products is of the utmost importance to these supply chains as a result.
As a result, we consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to continue providing support to our customers during this difficult time. For the security of our manufacturing capacity and supply chain, we keep in constant communication with our critical suppliers and manufacturing partners. Every one of our manufacturing facilities and supply chains is still up and running at this time.
When it comes to employee health and safety, it should never be sacrificed in the name of keeping the business running smoothly. There are several ways in which we help our employees continue doing their jobs in the safest possible way, including but not limited to:Occupational health and safety training is provided.
Each and every one of the employees who has the option to work from home chooses to do so on their own initiative
In order to maintain social distance, strict adherence to the protocols in place is required
Improved sanitation and hygiene standards have been implemented in all of our facilities
It has been determined that additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be purchased
From this point forward, all non-essential travel will be suspended until further notice
In recent years, the use of video conferencing has become increasingly popular
On the basis of current information, we believe that our ability to meet the demands of the orders in our current order book is not jeopardized, and we do not anticipate any interruptions in our continuity of supply in the foreseeable future as a result. Apart from our own manufacturing facility, we are fortunate to have manufacturing partners in a variety of countries around the world. This diverse manufacturing base is a valuable asset to our customers in order to prepare for any potential consequences of the coronavirus outbreak, which may occur. When faced with a pandemic, our constant reminder of how quickly things can change is a constant companion as we navigate its course. Our commitment to assisting you and your company during this period of uncertainty remains unchanged, even though we cannot guarantee that the coronavirus will not cause additional disruptions in the future. In the meantime, we're keeping a close eye on the situation and taking every precaution to ensure that any negative impact on our customers is kept to the absolute bare minimum if it becomes necessary. If and when there are any changes, we will notify you as soon as they are made known to us.