AVIC Cabin Systems (ACS) and Diehl Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that formalizes their intention to collaborate in “a number of business fields” in the Chinese market, particularly in joint procurement and supply chain activities, joint manufacturing projects, and marketing activities for cabin interiors projects in the country. Details of the organizational setup are still to be discussed and decided upon.
Pang Zhen, CEO of ACS (a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), and Rainer von Borstel, CEO of Diehl Aviation, signed the agreement in the presence of Chen Yuanxian, EVP of AVIC, during a ceremony held at the Zhuhai airshow.
According to the companies, the agreement offers both parties mutual benefits, and will help them combine forces to meet with the growing demand for aircraft cabin products worldwide, and in China in particular – regarded to be one of the strongest growing aviation markets in the world.
The MoU follows AVIC’s launch of ACS in July 2018, which combines AVIC’s cabin interiors business subsidiaries under one umbrella. These subsidiaries include FACC and Fesher, who specialize in floor-to-floor interiors; Thompson Aero Seating and Jiatai, who focus on business and economy class seats; and AIM Altitude, a leader in monuments and galleys. ACS customers include OEMs such as Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier and Embraer, as well as global airlines.
Diehl Aviation is a major supplier of aircraft systems and cabin interiors products to aircraft manufacturers and operators.