HK Aviation Parts Industry Takes off with Successful Development of HK’s First Passenger Aircraft Cabin Seat

Hong Kong industry’s bid in entering the high value-adding aviation parts manufacturing has reached a major milestone with the successful development of Hong Kong’s first passenger aircraft cabin seat in full compliance with international aviation safety standards, by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), in the spate of two-and-a-half years.

The knowledge acquired from the development project, funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the HKSAR Government and industry partners, will be transferred to local manufacturers, en route to securing the necessary approvals for production.

Introducing the project achievements today (14 November 2011), Mr Clement Chen, Chairman of HKPC, said, “The aviation parts industry is technology-intensive, with high thresholds in both quality and safety. With the increasing popularity of air travel, demands for aviation parts also surge. Eyeing on opportunities in this emerging industry, HKPC has embarked on assisting local manufacturers in industrial upgrading for tapping this market six years ago.”

Mr Chen stressed that Hong Kong has a strong foundation industry, with potential to developing into high value-adding aviation parts manufacturing. He said, “We started with the development of an aircraft cabin seat to help our industry take off. Now we have acquired the capabilities with the successful development of the prototype, the industry is one step closer to this move.”

“Our next target will be to develop some major structural parts for local production for further cost reduction; and to support the industry to diversify into manufacturing other in-cabin products, such as trolley, toilet set, kitchen, storage cabinets and cabin seat for the crew,” he added.

The prototype developed by HKPC uses carbon composite seatbacks which is 30 to 40 per cent lighter than traditional aluminium alloy products. As the production line will be set up in the Pearl River Delta region, with the ease of sourcing in the vicinity, the production cost is expected to be 30 per cent lower than the overseas competitors’. In addition, apart from Airbus A340, the seat can be fitted on other types of long haul wide-body passenger aircrafts with relevant certification.

The project’s strategic partners include six local enterprises. They have formed a consortium, Universal Aviation Industrial Limited, which is the first and only local aviation parts manufacturer. HKPC will transfer the knowledge acquired from the project to the company, and help its plant in Dongguan to set up an assembly line in compliance with the airworthiness requirement of the Hong Kong Aviation Requirements HKAR-21, paving way for commercialization and production.

Representative of Universal Aviation Industrial Limited, Mr Henry Chan, said, “The business potential for non-critical aviation components is remarkable, in particular in the fast-growing aviation market on the Mainland. With all necessary approvals, we expect to commence production in mid-2013, targeting the after-market.”

HKPC will consolidate the design documents, production procedures, test results as well as the experience and technologies acquired from the project and compile a technical manual for sharing with the industry.

For further information about the project, please contact Mr K K Lee, Principal Consultant (Materials and Manufacturing Technology) of HKPC, at tel. (852) 2788 5551 or email: kklee@hkpc.org. For other media enquiries, please contact HKPC’s Felix Chan at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

14 November 2011

(Right to left): HKPC Chairman, Mr Clement Chen; Director (Technology Development), Mr Joseph Poon; and representative of Universal Aviation Industrial Limited, Mr Henry Chan, with Hong Kong’s first self-developed passenger aircraft cabin seat in full compliance with international aviation safety standards