COST - EFFECTI V E R E FURBISHMENT
“ We are
looking at
how work
flows through
the facility”
Timm of Lufthansa Technik says the technique saves
labour and processing time compared with the process
for wood veneer. “Water transfer printing requires fewer
lacquer layers to be applied, also saving on drying times,
sanding and polishing ,” he explains.
Soret notes that the technique has improved over time.
“The film application is simpler than in the early days
of the process,” he says. “The quality of the film and the
available patterns and finishes are also much better.
EFFICIENCY BOOST
businessjetinteriorsinternational.com
036 APRIL 2020
Flying Colours is in the middle of a project to
triple capacity at its interiors facility within
Bombardier Business Aircraft’s service centre
at Seletar Airport in Singapore. As part of this,
the company is adjusting its workflow layout
to improve efficiency.
“We are always looking at the most
efficient way of refurbishing aircraft to
achieve the customer’s vision,” explains
Sean Gillespie of Flying Colours. “We already
implement Kaizen and lean methodologies,
which help us to manage our projects
efficiently. At our expanding Singapore
site we are looking at how work flows
through the facility to make sure it is as
logical as possible. When we expanded our
cabinetry workshop in St Louis, Missouri,
it was designed to optimise the flow
of product through the shop.”
Efficiencies also have ancillary benefits.
“As we open our new paint shop we are using
the opportunity to move away from chromate
primers to non-chromate products, to deliver
improved specifications and conformances
for the aviation industry,” says Gillespie.
“These moves will improve the paint finish,
reduce waste and make a positive impact
to worker’s health and environmental
protection. The experienced paint team
will maximise the efficiencies of the shop
to improve turnaround times, offer a wider
range of paint techniques and apply the
unique and unusual designs requested
by many customers.”
Flying Colours is
adding three spray booths,
a second sanding booth and
an extra polishing room in
Singapore, as well as moving
its upholstery section to a larger
area and adding storage
space for materials
advantage. “Water transfer films enable
us to be a lot more creative in areas with
complex shapes and designs,” he says.
“We can customise elements with textures
and designs because of the film options.
By doing this internally we can control
the downtime better and control the
materials that are being used.”
Wieland Timm, senior director of sales
for VIP and special-mission aircraft
services at Lufthansa Technik, says the
process enables looks that are not feasible
with wood veneer. “Water transfer printing
or direct film coating is the prime
alternative when real wood veneering is
either not possible due to certification
restrictions or the client doesn’t want to
use rare natural resources but still seeks a
special type of wood appearance,” he says.
ECONOMIC ARGUMENT
But is it any cheaper? Soret cautions that
water transfer printing requires investment
in dip tanks, other equipment and
training, and still involves a fair amount of
labour, which can offset the lower cost of
materials. “The costs of the two methods
are probably close,” he says. “What you get
with printed finishes is a weight saving and
quicker application time.”
Of course, weight and time savings
should translate into fuel and downtime
cost savings for operators.
MAIN: FLYING COLOURS
IS EXPANDING ON ITS
SUCCESS IN SINGAPORE
INSET: DUNCAN AVIATION
USED VINYL WRAPPING
TO FINISH THIS CABINET
/businessjetinteriorsinternational.com