B/E Aerospace, the world’s leading manufacturer of aircraft interior cabin products, turned to Solvay Advanced Polymers for help in creating a new enhanced video bezel for the luxury upgrade to the interior of Emirates’ B777 aircraft.
B/E Aerospace chose Radel® R polyphenylsulfone from Solvay Advanced Polymers to fabricate the video monitor unit due to its processability, surface qualities and exceptional heat and flame resistance. That performance also includes meeting the strict flammability, heat release and smoke density benchmarks of the Federal Aviation Administration for aircraft interiors.
“Solvay is a longtime, valued partner and our experience working with Radel R was key in selecting it to help Emirates realize their cabin vision,” explained Luis Jimenez, Senior Program Manager at B/E Aerospace. “It is one of only a handful of plastics that work in this application and we knew Radel R would perform well in the critical areas necessary for aerospace. Specifically, the resin can achieve the complexity of shape necessary in highend applications such as the video bezel. More importantly, its exceedingly high flame resistance meets the regulatory requirements as prescribed by the FAA.”
Emirates is an international airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airline has earned a reputation as a luxury carrier with a focus on passenger comfort and high-end service. When it recently revamped its seating units, it wanted a new bezel for its video display monitors that imitated the look of burled maple. Emirates turned to B/E Aerospace and Solvay Advanced Polymers to create it.
“Radel R is a uniquely suited polymer for the demanding needs of aerospace design and manufacturing,” commented Nick Malkovich, Global Market Manager, Solvay Advanced Polymers. “It can maintain the tight tolerances and dimensional stability required of complex components, yet also meets the exacting standards of FAA interior cabin regulations. It is in this type of customer engagement that one can see up close the promise and benefit advanced plastics bring to top design challenges.”
About B/E Aerospace, Inc.
B/E Aerospace, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products, and a leading aftermarket distributor of aerospace fasteners. B/E designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of products for both commercial aircraft and business jets. B/E manufactured products include aircraft cabin seating, lighting, oxygen, and food and beverage preparation and storage equipment. B/E sells and supports its products through its own global direct sales and product support organization. For more information, visit B/E’s website at
www.beaerospace.com.
About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C., produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at
www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.
SOLVAY is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and employs about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext:
SOLB.BE - Bloomberg:
SOLB.BB - Reuters:
SOLBt.BR). Details are available at
www.solvay.com.
For more information:
Mark Wheeler
Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C.
Telephone: 770.772.8849
Email:
mark.wheeler@solvay.com
