Textron Fastening Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., has unveiled its first commercial application of Intevia intelligent fastening technology: a latching system for aircraft interiors that meets the aerospace industry's needs for cost-effective security and systems integration and management.
The company also demonstrated Intevia reconfiguration for aircraft cabins that allows installation and removal of seats in as little as five minutes, as well as rapid repositioning of monuments, stowage units, furniture, and class dividers.
"Intevia symbolizes the leading-edge technologies and breakthrough solutions we bring to customers," said Rick Clayton, president of Textron Fastening Systems. "This first application demonstrates our strong belief in the acceptance of Intevia in the aerospace industry, and begins a series of applications we will introduce in this critical market during 2005."
These Intevia-enabled systems enhance aircraft cabin security and provide an all new technology platform for cost-effective customization and maintainability of entire fleets and individual aircraft. Intevia systems comprise a network of mechanical fastening or locking devices driven by smart materials actuation, embedded microprocessing and integrated sensors for status reporting. Integrated intelligence enables applications software to manage system operation.
"Intevia's ability to address the aerospace industry's requirements for advanced maintenance procedures and aircraft reconfiguration is creating the most significant opportunities for near-term growth," said Martin Schnurr, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Textron Fastening Systems.
"With the new Intevia latching and rapid reconfiguration solutions, we are launching a new generation of technology that will bring fundamental changes to the way aircraft interiors are designed, serviced and adapted to meet market requirements," Schnurr added. "Our goal is to establish a new class of universal fastening standards for commercial aircraft and business jets."
Textron Fastening Systems introduced its first commercial Intevia application during a news briefing today at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2005 in Hamburg.
The company's first customer for the Intevia security latch is MacCarthy Interiors Ltd, a UK-based aircraft interior design, manufacture, and certification company. MacCarthy currently is the sole UK supplier of these devices and initially is applying them as an alternative to electro-mechanical locking systems in first- and business-class stowage units of commercial aircraft. MacCarthy's global aircraft interiors customers include Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, Emirates, KLM Airlines, and TNT Air-Freight.
The Intevia-enabled latch operates silently. With its slim profile, it mounts flush into aircraft monuments, and weighs substantially less than electro-mechanical devices now in use. The latch is controlled through a touch-sensitive cabinet door handle, which features LEDs that indicate the stowage unit door lock-unlock status. Intevia's integrated sensors and electronics manage and control latch functions while maintaining real-time reporting on latch system status.
Today, Textron Fastening Systems also introduced Intevia-enabled solutions that allow quick reconfiguration of seat systems in commercial aircraft and business jets. The solution enables installation and replacement of an aircraft seat in less than five minutes versus 45 minutes for manually unbolting seat mountings. The Intevia system verifies that the correct installation and replacement process is followed, and ensures that service is performed only by authorized technicians.
In December 2004, Textron Fastening Systems Inc. signed a technology and partnership agreement with Telezygology Inc. (TZ) for exclusive global rights to develop, commercialize, and manufacture products using TZ's proprietary intelligent fastening technology and market them under the Intevia brand name.
Headquartered in Troy, Mich., USA, $1.9 billion Textron Fastening Systems Inc. is a leading provider of engineered fastening systems, state-of-the-art assembly technology, and inventory management and applications engineering services. With 10,000 employees worldwide, Textron Fastening Systems supplies value-added fastening products, systems, and services to customers in more than 150 countries.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.
http://www.textron.com
Posted 8th April 2005
