An ultra lightweight in-flight service cart with an added door seal feature is on display by Diethelm Keller.
"We introduced the cart at Hamburg earlier this year," says sales manager Joshua Chang. "But since then we have further improved the cart so door seals are available as an additional thermal enhancing feature."
The company's main objective in developing the aluminum ultra lightweight cart, which is currently used on Swiss International Air Lines, was to reduce long term operating costs. "Through implementing effective weight reduction programmes it saves aircraft fuel consumption," says Chang.
Standard lightweight aluminum full sized carts can weigh from 19-22kg, whereas the new cart weighs from 16-19kg, depending on final configurations. "The carts still provide impressive gross weights of 113.4kg and 68kg for the full size and half size carts respectively. This clearly demonstrates the ultra lightweight carts poses the same strength, rigidity and build quality as the standard lightweight and conventional carts," says Chang.
The Swiss galley inserts manufacturer has also developed a composite full size cart prototype that weighs 14kg. "For now composite carts are going to cost much higher than aluminium made ones. Due to the significant heavier investments and other uncertainties, airlines have been hesitant to change out its carts' fleet to composite types. But we will persist to find more affordable, viable composite materials and develop a feasible composite product range which will cater for the market majority."
For now the company's ultra-lightweight range costs fractionally more than the current lightweight designs. "This is because it has better thermal performance owing to optimal engineering design with thicker side walls and doors, adding insulating to panels, and a significant reduction of heat sinks," explains Chang. "Besides improving on the aesthetics our carts look more attractive adding to a better ambience in the cabin. Plus they are easier for the crew to move and use, overall reducing strain and fatigue on board."
Source: Flight Daily News
