Botany weaves its magic to impress Air Arabia

Irish textile company Botany Weaving had a very significant reason for being at the show – to sign an exclusive seven-year contract with Air Arabia.

The family-run company will supply seat fabric, curtains, and carpeting after successfully meeting the strict design durability and competitive cost requirements of the UAE’s first low-cost airline.

“Botany Weaving and Air Arabia are two companies with the same high-quality, low-cost philosophy to give unparalleled value to their customers while maintaining the highest level of service and commitment,” said Botany Weaving  CEO Jonathan Hackett. “We are not simply about supplying customers with materials they need, but also about creating innovative products that make aircraft more attractive, comfortable and economical.”

The company has recently launched a range of durable lightweight flat woven fabrics in modern designs and vibrant colours.

“These fabrics are 15 per cent lighter than standard aircraft upholstery constructions and all manufactured in our purpose-built facility in Dublin . We also have a new lightweight 100 per cent nylon carpet, which weighs only 1200 grams per square meter,” said Hackett.

To meet its increased carpet production, the company took delivery of a new Schonherr weaving machine for its recently completed and purpose-built third manufacturing facility in Ireland .

“This came on-line in November and represents a substantial investment by us. Our facility will also house five moquette looms and combined with our existing facilities in Dublin and Kilcar will future-proof production demands. No longer do airlines have to pay high prices for excellent design and service,” he added. 

Besides the new Air Arabia deal, customers within the region include Etihad, Saudi Airlines, Syria Air and Iran Air.

One company exhibiting at the show believes it has the answer to the future of aircraft seat covers.

“We design, cut and sew seat covers in fabric and leather,” said Paymen Sabeti, director of Sabeti Wain. “But we specialise in a unique type of seat where the fabric and leather is laminated to a foam-backing giving the same look as luxury car seat covers.

“This latest innovation is shaped and designed to replace the back foam on the seat, therefore giving a unique shape to the cover and laminating it with a thin layer of foam. By doing away with the back foam you save weight and costs.”

The UK-based company says lamination is the future of aircraft seats.

“We specialise in lamination. It definitely gives the best results as it enhances the look of the seat covers and it allows designers to realise their designed shape from rendering into sharp, crisp, fresh looking seat covers,” explained Sabeti. “Designing the cover at the same time as the back and bottom foams can lead to a reduction in the foams while retaining comfort and saving weight, as well as cutting costs and maximising image. It is unlike others on the market.”

The company believes it is the only organisation with in-house lamination facilities within the aerospace industry. Its lamination is in use on Emirates across all classes, Fly Dubai and Etihad Business and First Class covers, Qantas across all classes, JetAirways, and British Airways Business Class.

It has a manufacturing facility in the UK but, due to demand, Sabeti opened a second facility in Dubai in 2007 based at the Airport Free Zone.

Two companies attending AIME have brought their textile skills together, seeing positive results.

German carpet manufacturers Anker-Teppichboden was at the show to meet new potential clients in the region along with its partner Rohi, which specialises in seating fabrics that can be matched to Anker’s carpets.

“We produce contract carpets, both woven and tufted, with a fully-integrated production line which includes spinning, dyeing, weaving/tufting and finishing for aircraft,” said sales director Alexander v.Fuchs-Nordhoff for Anker.

“Our carpets can be made of wool and nylon and we can produce and design in any colour in accordance to our customer requirements. We use raw materials to make high-quality eco-friendly carpet, which is fully durable so it doesn’t need to be changed so frequently.”

Anker’s customers include Emirates, Gulf Air, Thai Airways and Lufthansa.

Rohi displayed examples of its seat covers currently used on board Oman Air A330, Gulf Air, Singapore Airlines and Emirates.

“We also provide complete interior textile solutions for the whole aircraft cabin, including all relevant soft materials; curtain and antimacassar fabrics, leather and carpets,” said sales director Thomas Kaminsky. “Customers can choose from established collections or use one of our eight expert designers for their own individual solutions within a defined timeframe.

“Working along with Anker-Teppichboden, we ensure perfect harmonised fabrics and carpets,” added Kaminsky.