Airline interiors specialist uses Femap to deliver challenging designs and speed up product development

First-class passengers expect elegance and indulgence, and commercial airlines attract and maintain high-value customers with impeccable service. Cabin interiors that provide style and comfort for travelers and convenience for crew members are an integral aspect of service, so when airlines want truly distinctive design, they approach AIM Altitude’s Premium Cabin Interiors team.
With a reputation for thoughtful functionality, over the years AIM Altitude has delivered seating, storage and socializing solutions that range from magnificent splendor to reassuring simplicity. From its roots as a small United Kingdom (UK) coachworks founded in the early 20th century, AIM Altitude is now a global business serving the world’s leading airlines. A member of AVIC International, the company also supplies original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Boeing and Airbus, manufacturers of regional aircraft and the UK Ministry of Defense.

In recent years, the business has grown through acquisition and although all manufacturing takes place in the UK, design and finite element analysis (FEA) for premium cabin interiors is done in two countries: Bournemouth has 60 engineers and two New Zealand offices, Auckland and Christchurch, have 50. In addition, AIM Altitude has a galleys business with 50 engineers based in the UK.
As a result of acquisitions, the teams were using different FEA solutions and It was clear that the company needed to standardize on one of its engineering systems – Femap™ software from product lifecycle management (PLM) specialist Siemens Digital Industries Software.

“It is taking us 50 percent less time to create FEA models and it is less than a year since we implemented Femap in the UK.”

Results

– Provided comprehensive FEA capabilities
– Delivered tangible cost savings over a three-year period
– Reduced time required  to create FEA by 50 percent
– Enhanced ability to share workload across distant sites, facilitating 24-hour productivity
– Improved individual user efficiency

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