Soisa Aircraft Interiors, a specialist in aircraft cabin interiors, has launched a buyer-furnished equipment (BFE) dress cover management service. One of the company’s main activities is in aircraft seat dress cover design and manufacturing, and the service is intended to enhance efficiency and precision in the supply chain.
Soisa’s strategy is to streamline logistics processes, reducing lead times for new deliveries and aftermarket phases, while supporting intermediary management and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company says the new BFE service offers benefits for seat OEMs by aligning with aircraft delivery schedules, enhancing control over procurement and manufacturing, and ensuring on-time delivery.
So how does the service work? Soisa coordinates with airlines to receive BFE materials precisely when needed, relieving both airlines and OEMs of capital costs, administrative burdens, and supply chain complexities, allowing seat OEMs to focus on their core business.
Airlines will also benefit from direct procurement, resulting in cost savings and reduced lead times, while consistent part numbers throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle help eliminate re-engineering and certification costs. Soisa will work to ensure prompt deliveries, rapid responses to aircraft on the ground (AOG) situations, and efficient inventory management, reducing administrative burdens for airlines and OEMs.
The process also reflects Soisa’s expanding ESG programme. Direct procurement of materials from Soisa and reduced transit times help lower carbon emissions and the environmental impact associated with traditional procurement methods.
Soisa believes this aviation procurement strategy offers a streamlined solution that promises cost savings, lead time reduction, and operational efficiency for both seat manufacturers and airlines.
“We are committed to enhancing the procurement experience for our clients around the world. At Soisa, we’re not just redesigning cabin interiors; we’re transforming the way the industry approaches procurement,” stated Jacobo Mesta, sales and growth stategy at Soisa.
A sustainable armrest
As part of its other cabin activities, which include cushions, curtains, carpets, insulation panels, acoustic panels, and VIP seats, Soisa Aircraft Interiors, has also developed an ‘organic armrest’ for aircraft seating, made of a base of corn particles.
In 2023, Soisa produced approximately 5,200 armrests for various airlines, utilising around 2,000 square feet of polyethylene foam, which resulted in nearly 2,600kg of CO2 emissions annually. By transitioning to a biodegradable material derived from corn waste, which is an eco-friendly, non-food resource, Soisa says it will significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
The corn-based material may also offer cost benefits, enabling Soisa to produce specialised moulds for each part number and thermoform the corn, thus streamlining its manufacturing processes for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
This initiative builds on the success of Soisa’s ‘From Waste to Wonder’ programme, which repurposed materials that were otherwise destined for the landfill into functional items like wallets, bags and pouches for the local community.
Jacobo Mesta, Sales and Growth Strategy at Soisa, says: “As the aerospace industry intensifies its focus on sustainability practices, airlines worldwide are increasingly striving to minimise their environmental footprint. Soisa is at the forefront of this movement, pioneering engineering in aerospace by thinking outside the box and exploring alternatives which promote a sustainable future.
“This innovative design not only highlights our commitment to environmental responsibility but also ensures that our products retain their aesthetic appeal, comfort, and high quality.”
The organic armrest, soon to undergo testing and certification, marks Soisa’s initial venture into exploring biodegradable materials, poised to integrate sustainability across their entire product line and align with the global Net Zero 2050 initiative,” added Mesta.
