MÜLLER |ROMCA
1. THE BACK SHELL OF THE ESSENZA
SEAT WAS A KEY FOCUS FOR THE
DESIGN TEAM
2. AN UNDERSTATED TRIM & FINISH
SCHEME ENABLES EASY SWAPPING
BETWEEN AIRLINE BRANDS
3. THE SEAT COVERS ARE AN EASILY
SWAPPABLE ELEMENT
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2020 077
aircraft seating manufacturer, Geven,
considering it a suitable base for the
industrial design developed by
Müller|Romca. However, the design
and airline teams wanted to enlarge
the living space within the seat, with
a particular focus on the back shell.
As Romca explains, “Anyone who is
involved in the development of economy
class seats knows that a lot of things
come together in the passenger space.
The table, the legroom and the storage
compartments all have to complement
each other perfectly, and these
considerations are joined by requirements
resulting from the HIC tests, which
influence the placement and shape of
the latch and coat hook.”
The Hamburg-based specialists at
Müller|Romca have systematically
optimised the turning points, heights
and contours of the seat’s components.
This was done using the CAD model as
well as a number of physical models.
As Müller says, “The Müller|Romca
team see themselves as comprehensive
problem solvers who also develop
technical solutions on a daily basis.”
Product design development at
Müller|Romca has resulted in an
arrangement by which the seat’s literature
pocket is located above the table which, in
combination with the self-supporting
backrest and the special table design,
provides passengers with greater space.
The seat pitch is unchanged at 30in
(76cm), but as Romca says, “there is a
noticeable increase in living space over
comparable seats with the same pitch.”
Needless to say, the seats have USB
ports and the tables are moulded to
accommodate tablet PCs more effectively.
Another crucial aspect of the industrial
design is the styling. “Passengers not only
have hours of physical contact with the
product – they also look at it for just as
long,” says Romca. “Every ill-chosen radius
and every illogical surface transition is
subconsciously perceived, marring the
overall impression.”
It is often these small details that
require the greatest effort – such as the
design of the literature pocket. Developing
a literature pocket that looks acceptable
on delivery is one thing. But to build the
whole thing in such a way that it still
works after millions of flight kilometres
is something entirely different. The
Müller|Romca team is very persistent
when it comes to solving such detailed
problems, and works very closely with
the respective manufacturers.
THE DETAILED WORK
With respect to the seat covers, it was
necessary to develop an individual and
brand-specific design for each of the three
airlines, based on a uniform cut with its
special seam structure. The leather
upholstery therefore had to be made up
of a certain number of surfaces that could
be individually coloured. In principle, covers
composed of multiple leather surfaces are
“ THE GOAL IS FOR THE AIRCRAFT
TO BE FULLY CONVERTIBLE TO
EACH SISTER AIRLINE”
Müller| Romca
also designed
Lufthansa’s
long-haul premium
economy cabins
3
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