A new collaboration has been launched to address the long-term concerns that have developed as a result of the global pandemic, with the creation of an economy class passenger seat aimed at minimising the risk of infection from COVID-19 without impacting the commercial model that airlines fly with.
Tapis Corp from Armonk, New York, SIMONA Boltaron from Newcomerstown, Ohio and Molon Labe Seating from Denver, Colorado, have joined forces on a design that utilises physical distancing, anti-microbial surfaces and respiratory protection, to minimise the spread of COVID-19 on aircraft.
Tapis is supplying the Ultrafabrics-manufactured anti-microbial technology, Promessa to cover the seat back, seat pan, armrests and headrest.
Matthew Nicholls from Tapis Corporation commented: “The Promessa product has anti-microbial silver ion technology built into the topskin of the product. It is inherent in the polymer to ensure maximum efficacy and prevent any leaching throughout the lifetime of the product”.
The Promessa material can also be cleaned with a wide range of EPA registered cleaners and disinfectants and is the reason why they are the market leader in the healthcare industry for surface materials
The headrest features a unique curved design that reduces contact with neighbouring passengers and creates a barrier to the transmission of corona virus particles.
The large, one-sided headrest can act as a physical barrier that be rotated 180 degrees to open up the seats between traveling friends and family, or used to act as a physical barrier between unknown passengers. It also offers a patented headrest vent which would distribute fresh cabin air directly in front of the passengers face rather than from an overhead vent. This fresh air vent would have volume and direction adjustments similar to current overhead cabin air vents.
New Boltaron’s new 9815N FAR-rated material has been specially engineered to withstand frequent cleaning with strong chemicals, in addition to UV-C disinfection and electrostatic fogging. 9815N is also offered as a standard with an anti-microbial treatment and can be customised in an unlimited range of textures and colours.
Molon Labe worked with SIMONA Boltaron’s scm360° prototyping and specialty design team to optimise the engineered design of the unique S2 seat shell design.
In addition to providing the materials, SIMONA Boltaron engineered the 3D tooling data, built the tool and thermoformed the prototype parts for the seat.
The three partners plan to complete the design by early 2021.
