A civil aircraft can carry anywhere from 120 to nearly 700 passengers, with the Airbus A318 being the most accommodating aircraft and the Airbus A380 being the least accommodating aircraft, on a general basis.
Aircraft seats can range in weight from 10 kg (economy) to more than 20 kg (wide-body) depending on their configuration and size. A seat mass ranging from 1200kg to 14000kg is prominently displayed on the flight manifest for each flight, in light of the evidence that lighter seat designs are critical to an airline's commercial performance, particularly during times of rising fuel prices.
Today's aircraft seat designers have access to a wide range of materials, allowing them to meet the structural and aesthetically pleasing requirements of the aircraft seat while still staying within their budgetary constraints. Iron and nonferrous alloys are included in the metal alloys category, as are other types of metals and metal alloys, as well as other types of metals. A number of different processes can be used to manufacture this type of material, depending on the specific requirements of the customer in question. Metalworking processes include forging and casting, as well as pressing, machining, and extrusions, to name a few examples.
Overall, the designer's 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 mandated by industry standards.
We at Investacast have been supplying the aircraft seating industry with high-precision structural investment castings (including forgings) and pressure die castings (including pressure die castings) that are both lightweight and strong in order to meet the needs of the aircraft seating industry for more than 35 years. Investacast has been supplying the aircraft seating industry since 1982.
The seat structure is primarily composed of 17-4PH stainless steel investment castings, which are renowned for their high strength and long-term durability. We are able to produce castings with extremely thin walls in some areas due to the precision of our precision casting technique; in some cases, the walls can be as thin as 1.5mm in some areas due to the precision of the technique. According to widespread consensus, this grade of steel is the most appropriate alloy for use in the structural components of the seat that are subjected to high demands on a regular basis. This material has a mechanical strength greater than 1100 MPa as well as excellent ductility, which are both characteristics of the material.
Along with seat arms and slides, the closed die forging method is frequently employed in the production of other seat components, such as food tray arms and slides, as well as other seat components. Among the methods used to manufacture high-strength aluminum 7075T6 grade food tray arms and slides, the closed die forging method is the most frequently encountered. When it comes to these aesthetically and mechanically demanding applications, the finished machined and anodized products that Investacast provides are ready to be used immediately after they have been finished and anodized, which saves time and money. In addition to these products, the company provides a diverse range of other services and solutions.
Armrest pivots and food tray arms, for example, can be made from aluminum alloys such as A380 and A356 using pressure die casting products. These components are both structurally and aesthetically demanding in the seat. As a result of its ability to achieve tight tolerances and a high-quality surface finish, as well as the repeatability of the manufacturing process, it is an excellent choice for aircraft seating manufacturers.
The extensive global supplier network of Investacast allows the aircraft seating manufacturer to provide its customers with the most cost-effective commercial solution at the most competitive price possible.
Considering the fact that we play an important role in a number of critical supply chains, we understand that the continued availability of our products is critical to the continued operation of these supply chains.
As a result, we have been able to maintain our ability to support our customers in spite of the difficult circumstances we have faced. For the security of our manufacturing capacity and supply chain, we keep in constant communication with our critical suppliers and manufacturing partners. Each and every one of our manufacturing facilities and supply chains is still open for business, and they are all fully operational.
It is never acceptable to put the health and safety of employees at risk in the name of keeping the business running smoothly, no matter how important it is. Various methods, including but not limited to the following, are used to assist our employees in performing their jobs in the safest possible manner. On-the-job health and safety training is provided to all company employees.
All of the employees who have the option to work from home do so on their own initiative and according to their own schedules and preferences.
It is necessary to strictly adhere to the protocols that have already been established in order to maintain social distance.
The implementation of improved sanitation and hygiene standards has taken place throughout our entire organization.
The need for additional personal protective equipment (PPE) has been identified, and the necessary equipment will be purchased.
The suspension of all non-essential travel will be in effect from this point forward and will remain in effect until further notification.
Video conferencing is becoming increasingly popular, and it is becoming more and more common as time goes on.
In light of current information, we are confident in our ability to fulfill the orders in our current order book, and we do not anticipate any interruptions in our continuity of supply in the foreseeable future as a result of this situation, as previously stated. Apart from our own manufacturing facility, we are fortunate to have manufacturing partners in a variety of countries all over the world. These include manufacturing partners in the United States. We believe that our diverse manufacturing base is a valuable asset to our customers when it comes to preparing for the potential consequences of a coronavirus outbreak that may occur in the future.
Our constant reminder of how quickly things can change serves as an invaluable companion as we navigate the course of an epidemic when we are confronted with one. The coronavirus may cause additional disruptions in the future, but we remain committed to assisting you and your company during this period of uncertainty. When a change becomes necessary, the situation is being closely monitored, and we are taking every precaution to ensure that any negative impact on our customers is kept to a bare minimum. When we become aware of any changes, we will send you an email as soon as they are made available to us, unless otherwise specified.