Pneumatic Seat Cushions: Lantal Double Finalist at the Crystal Cabin Award
24 April 2007 09:09
Hamburg – Yesterday the winners of the very first Crystal Cabin Award for innovative solutions for the aircraft cabin were announced. Lantal was nominated twice for its pneumatic seat cushions, in the categories 'comfort and well-being' and 'environment.' The nominations demonstrate the striking advantages of this technology: an unprecedented comfort experience combined with a significant weight reduction. Though not named as a winner, Lantal is proud to have reached the top three out of 82 applicants and congratulates all the category winners for their great success.
82 applicants from 13 nations entered the very first Crystal Cabin Award. It is the only international prize for innovative concepts, products, and designs of aircraft cabins, and is awarded in six different categories: innovation and technical components; comfort and well-being; environment; entertainment and communication; safety and security; and future concepts and industrial designs. There is an additional prize for the overall winner.
The Crystal Cabin Award was initiated by the Hamburg Ministry of Economic and Labour Affairs, in cooperation with the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIE), the leading international fair for aircraft cabin products.
PNEUMATIC AIRCRAFT SEAT CUSHIONS
Urs Baumann, chairman of the board of Lantal and the father of this visionary concept, has seen his adamant faith in the pneumatic systems confirmed. "This nomination reflects the merits of this innovation. After 9/11, when we started … the development of the pneumatic seat cushions, nobody believed in the success of such an extraordinary vision. Today our pneumatic seat cushions are on the … way to their commercialization in the aviation industry."
The pneumatic seat cushions are the result of a highly professional development process. They offer peerless passenger comfort by adapting to the user's anatomy, providing an incomparable seating experience. The adjustability of the cushions is a great asset: it allows passengers to sit and sleep comfortably.
The underlying technology is both simple and ingenious. Instead of conventional foams, the cushions are filled with air. Apart from the perceptible improvement of seating comfort, the high-tech structures and materials save considerable weight and are safer. This reduces kerosene consumption and allows the carrier to increase payloads.
Roland von Ballmoos, executive vice-president of pneumatic systems, and – as project leader – intimately involved in the development of the pneumatic cushions from the very beginning, points out: "The technology of air-filled chambers itself isn't new, but to transfer it into aircraft interiors with their strict safety regulations was a very ambitious target. We are proud to have reached this goal and are convinced that this innovation will set a new standard of travelling comfort in the air."
With this innovative product, the Swiss company can further strengthen its global leadership position as a specialist for turnkey soft-interior solutions in the passenger transportation industry.
For more information on this company:
Lantal Textiles - Aircraft Interior Fabrics and Transportation Fashion
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