United Kingdom | June 28, 2018–As part of its ongoing core research activities, STG Aerospace, pioneering aircraft cabin lighting specialists, is collaborating with Swansea University’s College of Engineering on the establishment of a new PhD project focused on the next generation of photoluminescent safety products for the aerospace industry.

The project is part of the KESS (Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships) initiative which is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys and is designed to support the development of key technologies in the region by linking universities and SMEs.

Dr Sean O’Kell, Director of Innovation at STG Aerospace, commented: “This takes our current number of post-graduate university programmes to four and demonstrates yet again just how important research is to our business. For a company of our size, we invest a significant amount of time and energy not only in the development of our existing products but also in research for what will be the next generation of aircraft cabin lighting systems.”

STG Aerospace is also involved in research projects at Cardiff University and Delft University of Technology in Holland.

Dr Chris Phillips of Swansea University added; “We’re delighted to be collaborating with STG Aerospace on this PhD project. Strengthening the ties between academia and the SME sector is vitally important to the development of new technologies that can be applied in the marketplace.”

United Kingdom | August 10, 2017– Aircraft cabin lighting specialist, STG Aerospace is increasing its capability to meet future demand for its aircraft photoluminescent floor path marking, emergency and informational signage and LED mood lighting products. This is very much driven by the company’s commitment to R&D at its Innovation & Engineering Centre in Cwmbran – a part of Wales that is fast becoming a dynamic aerospace hub.

Nigel Duncan, CEO of STG Aerospace noted: “Our investment in R&D and Innovation has placed us at the forefront of research into the impact that lighting has on airline passengers, both physiologically and psychologically. It is central to our cabin lighting product development philosophy and key to the success of the company. That’s why we’re continuing to invest in the expertise of our team.”

Newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, Grant Bennett, who has overall responsibility not just for STG Aerospace’s Operations and Engineering functions, but also for the Supply Chain team, commented: “With my 20 years plus management experience and lean manufacturing expertise, I am looking forward to the imminent challenge of ensuring the seamless integration of all our operational functions as the company expands and develops.”

STG Aerospace continues to lead and light the way within the retrofit and upgrade market with its cabin lighting products on a third of the world’s airlines today. New Senior Marketing Manager, Caroline Easton, will be working on advancing the company’s global market position in LED and photoluminescent lighting. A lighting enthusiast at heart, Caroline previously worked in retail commercial LED lighting and is looking forward to applying her experience and expertise to LED cabin lighting: “I am passionate about the positive impacts light can have on people. Enhancing experiences, changing moods, creating theatre to performing essential functions. At STG Aerospace, I’m surrounded by likeminded professionals – and share a passion and desire to innovate with aviation in mind.”

STG Aerospace’s team culture pervades in every department and in the words of Nigel Howell, who recently joined as Head of Engineering, responsible for engineering capability, resource management and the design and development of all liTeMood® mood lighting products: “I joined STG Aerospace to make a difference and improve the capability to rapidly deliver new products to market. Ultimately to contribute to the success of the business.”

Mark Warren, Electronic Design Engineer, who is working as part of the team responsible for developing the LED software commented: “STG Aerospace struck me as a very forward-looking company and I was motivated by the fact it is obviously going places. I was excited by the commitment to develop new LED products. I am really enjoying working on products that airline passengers are actually going to benefit from.”

“The company’s vision and its global presence are the two reasons why I joined the team.” added Roger Tanner, Mechanical Design Engineer, who is primarily working on STG Aerospace’s innovative new LED cabin lighting product ranges.

Grant Bennett concluded: “STG Aerospace now has the right people in place in every department and I would say we have got the right team – an amazing innovative collective group to take the company forward to become a dominant world leader in aircraft cabin lighting solutions.”

United Kingdom | October 20, 2016– Leading cabin lighting company STG Aerospace is delighted to announce that EASA has approved its latest photoluminescent floorpath marking system, saf-Tglo® blu, for the following aircraft in the current Airbus fleet – the A300, A310, A320, A330 and A340.

This is the first time that an emergency egress system using blue photoluminescence has been approved for use in any aircraft application. saf-Tglo® blu provides a unique colour glow for operators of aircraft in the Airbus family and cabin designers alike preparing to modify or upgrade Airbus aircraft interiors.

Engineered from the proven technology of the original and market-leading saf-Tglo® photoluminescent range, the unique and patented design of saf-Tglo® blu emits a blue glow, a noticeable change from the traditional green glow that has always been associated with the product, and enables airlines to subtly transform cabin aesthetics via simple illumination without compromising passenger safety.

In daylight, the body colour of saf-Tglo® blu is whiter than the glow produced by traditional photoluminescent systems meaning that when it is used with any translucent film or overlay, the result is a truer, brighter, cleaner colour. In darkness, the glow has a calmer, softer, more reassuring quality whilst still performing the critical safety function the system provides.

saf-Tglo® blu is an obvious choice for operators of Airbus aircraft looking to improve their interiors appeal, the unique transformation afforded by the simplistic modification of a saf-Tglo® blu installation has the distinct ability to transform any aircraft, blending seamlessly with the latest mood lighting systems. Whilst obviously a significant visual upgrade, the origins of the design are actually based in science, and specifically the results of a human perception analysis which show that the blue wavelengths of emitted light enable enhanced passenger perception of the emergency track with a dark adapted human eye.

saf-Tglo® is the world’s lightest, narrowest and most discreet floor path marking system and the first non-electrical system that can reduce maintenance and operational costs. Installed on over 10,000 aircraft worldwide and selected by virtually every major aircraft manufacturer it is the photoluminescent floor path marking system of choice for aircraft manufacturers, airlines and cabin designers.

The EASA approval process was executed using STG Aerospace’s own in-house Design Organisation Approval (DOA) procedures and, using its extensive in-service performance data, the company has been able to reduce the maintenance burden for airlines by minimising the requirement for inspections. As with other versions of saf-Tglo®, saf-Tglo® blu can be very easily installed – typically by an airline’s own technical staff during an overnight shift.

Sean O’Kell, Director of Innovation for STG Aerospace, commented: “Securing EASA approval for saf-Tglo® blu across the Airbus fleet obviously opens up exciting new marketing opportunities for us and we’re already in advanced negotiations with key launch customers. As a product, it symbolises our commitment to the continual evolution of the saf-Tglo® range – always enhancing the aesthetics without in any way compromising on safety.”

United Kingdom | July 14, 2016– Leading cabin lighting specialist STG Aerospace, is delighted to announce that its market-leading emergency floorpath marking system, saf-Tglo®, has been installed on the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital.

Orbis, a non-profit organization that fights blindness around the world and based in New York, operates the Flying Eye Hospital, the world’s only mobile ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, taking the very latest ophthalmological knowledge and surgical skills to local hospitals around the world.

The aircraft, an MD-10-30CF was previously operated by FedEx who subsequently donated it to Orbis. Today the aircraft is flown by a team of volunteer FedEx pilots.

saf-Tglo® is the emergency exit marking solution of choice for leading aircraft manufacturers and airlines worldwide, and is the highest performing, lightest and most discrete photoluminescent system available. The selection of saf-Tglo® on the new Orbis Flying Eye Hospital demonstrates the versatility of the product and how it can be applied to a variety of different applications – not just commercial aircraft.

Fitted with SuperSeal Lite®, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has selected the narrowest, lightest and most discrete floor path marking solution available, complete with a blue insert to complement the aircraft’s interior.

The completely sealed, hard-wearing, long-lasting system is approved and certified for installation on virtually every type of aircraft. It requires no power source and is fully charged by the cabin lighting within minutes. 100% reliable, saf-Tglo® significantly reduces the maintenance and operational costs associated with traditional electrical systems and being much lighter, improves the aircraft’s fuel efficiency.

Marcus Williams, Director of Sales & Marketing of STG Aerospace, commented: “We are delighted to be contributing to the safe and effective operation of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, which delivers the skills, resources and knowledge needed to deliver quality eye care. This project is also a further example of STG Aerospace’s involvement in supporting airborne medicine having already supplied photoluminescent solutions for a UK helicopter-based emergency medical service.”

Hamburg, Germany | April 7, 2016– Leading aircraft cabin lighting company, STG Aerospace, has expanded its saf-Tsign® product range with a new self-adhesive, photoluminescent decal designed to subtly illuminate the AC outlet unit on airline seats.

Malaysia Airlines has become the launch customer for the latest saf-Tsign® product which has been successfully installed across the airline’s fleet of A380 aircraft earlier this year.

The new saf-Tsign® photoluminescent solution will enable passengers to find the AC outlet unit during low light or dark conditions. Easily installed, the decal can be customised to any size or shape, making it equally suitable for other applications on the seat such as headphone sockets and seat numbers. With a charging time of 5 to 45 minutes, depending on cabin light levels, the sign will deliver up to 14 hours of light output.

STG Aerospace has been manufacturing and supplying high-quality, industry-approved saf-Tsign® products for over 20 years. The leading brand of photoluminescent emergency and informational signage, developed for both commercial and military fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, saf-Tsign® is a low-cost, environmentally friendly, direct replacement for tritium signs. 100% fail-safe, saf-Tsign® has the added benefit of zero operating costs and can be tailor-made to suit individual operators’ requirements.

Marcus Williams, added: “This is a great example of our commitment to the ongoing development of a truly innovative, holistic and cost effective cabin lighting product range. The STG Aerospace R&D team are continuously looking for ways to expand our product range to solve customer problems and improve the passenger experience. saf-Tsign® continues to be the number one choice for cabin signage for numerous OEMs and airlines worldwide.”

United Kingdom | January 20, 2016– Following certification by the FAA and EASA, operators of Airbus A320 Family aircraft are now able to upgrade the emergency floor path marking to the latest version of STG Aerospace’s market-leading saf-Tglo® photoluminescent system, SuperSeal UltraLite (SSUL).

First launched in 1995 and with continuous evolutions ever since, saf-Tglo® stores and simultaneously emits light and marks the way to the emergency exits after a short charging period. Requiring no power source, saf-Tglo® is a low cost, maintenance free solution for emergency floor path lighting and features a unique fully-sealed design that eliminates fluid ingress and can reduce maintenance costs by up to 80% compared to other systems. Now installed on over 10,000 aircraft operating for over 300 airlines worldwide, saf-Tglo® is the market leading photoluminescent floor path marking system.

The latest generation SSUL incorporates all the fundamental design features of earlier saf-Tglo® designs and is 70% lighter and 17% brighter, helping to reduce airline fuel costs and making it the highest performing system of its kind. Already specified as line fit by numerous aircraft manufacturers and retrofitted on many aircraft in the aftermarket, SSUL is already installed and flying on A320 aircraft.

Featuring a reduced depth profile to suit modern light weight carpets, SSUL is the narrowest, lightest and most discrete floor path marking solution available and is manufactured in one-piece lengths that can be easily cut to fit and sealed during installation. In addition, carpet edges can be concealed with the OverCarpet™ housing option with a hinged-wing design that removes the need for carpet binding, saving further cost.

Marcus Williams, Global Sales and Marketing Director for STG Aerospace, commented: “SSUL builds on the outstanding success of our saf-Tglo® product range. Securing EASA and FAA approval for the successful Airbus A320 Family now allows operators of these aircraft to install the latest next-generation emergency exit lighting solution helping to save significant costs, both operational and maintenance, compared with electrical systems.”

The A320, the first Airbus single-aisle aircraft, was launched in March 1984 with the first deliveries in March 1988. The A320 Family was soon extended to include the A321, the A319 and the A318. Continuing to set industry standards for comfort and operating economy on short to medium-haul routes, the A320 pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, as well as side-stick controls, in commercial aircraft. There are currently over 6000 Airbus A320 Family aircraft in service with some 5000+ further aircraft on firm order.

Find out more about saf-Tglo® by visiting www.stgaerospace.com/saftglo

United Kingdom | January 11, 2016– STG Aerospace, the pioneering aircraft cabin lighting company, is delighted to announce that Icelandair has selected its next generation saf-Tglo® SuperSeal UltraLite® (SSUL) photoluminescent floorpath lighting for its 767 aircraft, becoming the first 767 operator for this newly certified system.

A long-standing customer of STG Aerospace, Icelandair is already in the process of upgrading its 757 fleet from saf-Tglo® SuperSeal Lite® (SSL) to the new SSUL version. Highly regarded for its outstanding performance on a growing network of transatlantic routes, Icelandair has also signed a commitment to purchase 12 737MAX aircraft which Boeing will deliver factory-fitted with SSUL in 2018. This decision to ensure commonality across its fleet both now and into the future is a clear sign of Icelandair’s confidence in STG Aerospace’s ability to deliver both innovation and reliability in lighting its aircraft’s cabins.

saf-Tglo®, first introduced by STG Aerospace in 1995, is installed on 10,000 aircraft worldwide and is the system of choice for 300+ global airlines. SSUL, is the highest performing photoluminescent floorpath marking system available, is 17% brighter than its SSL predecessor and 70% lighter, helping to reduce airline fuel costs even further. With its one-piece design, it can be quickly cut to length and sealed during installation, a process that can be easily carried out by an airline’s own engineering team.

SSUL’s reduced profile makes it an optimal match for modern light weight carpets and with over 300 colour options and a unique carpet pattern matching service available, enables airlines to achieve not only a pleasing aesthetic but one that co-ordinates with their corporate branding without reducing safety. In addition, carpet edges can be concealed with the OverCarpet™ polycarbonate housing option that features a hinged-wing design and removes the need for carpet binding, reducing costs and enhancing the appearance of the cabin.

Thordur Sigfusson, Icelandair’s CVE Structures and Interior & Program Manager, commented:
“After working with STG Aerospace for some 13 years, we have come to appreciate not only the high reliability and low maintenance cost of their lighting systems but also the innovation they bring to their product development. So, having made the decision to introduce two Boeing 767s to complement our fleet of 757s, it was an obvious choice to equip them with the latest saf-Tglo® version, SSUL”.

Marcus Williams, STG Aerospace’s Global Sales and Marketing Director, added:
“We’re delighted that Icelandair, an airline with which we have an excellent, long-standing relationship, will be our launch customer for SuperSeal UltraLite® on the 767 platform, adding to their current retrofitting of the 757 fleet. Their decision is a validation of their trust in saf-Tglo® and further evidence that our ongoing programme of product development is truly meeting customer needs.”

Hamburg, Germany | April 15, 2015– STG Aerospace, a world leader in pioneering aircraft lighting technologies, has been awarded the contract to retrofit the DreamJet trading as La Compagnie Boeing 757-200 aircraft that has been configured to provide a transatlantic all-business class service. The aircraft will be equipped with STG Aerospace’s latest generation safTglo® SuperSeal UltraLite™ (SSUL) emergency floorpath marking system and liTeMood® LED cabin lighting system.  The installations will take place later this month.

A low-cost, low-weight alternative to electrical emergency systems, safTglo® SSUL features a unique, fully-sealed design which eliminates fluid ingress and can reduce maintenance costs by up to 80%. Moreover, with no power source required, it offers 100% reliability and considerable weight savings. Today, safTglo® is the system of choice for over 300 global airlines and is currently installed on over 9,000 aircraft worldwide.

SSUL, certified by EASA and FAA in December 2014, is the latest version of safTglo® is the lightest photoluminescent emergency floorpath marking system available. Incorporating all the benefits of previous designs, SSUL is 70% lighter than previous versions – helping to reduce airline fuel costs even further – and has a 17% higher luminosity rating.

In addition to over 300 colour options enabling airlines to achieve an aesthetic, co-ordinated cabin interior without reducing safety. DreamJet trading as La Compagnie will also be the first airline to install the SSUL OverCarpet system, which provides even simpler installation and with its hinged-wing design removes the need for airlines to bind the carpet edges providing the best possible appearance in the cabin as well as saving airlines cost.

As part of this interior upgrade DreamJet trading as La Compagnie selected liTeMood® for the LED lighting.  liTeMood® is a true plug-and-play, programmable, blue/white LED cabin lighting system that offers a cost-effective, versatile and controllable solution to bring the  lighting quality of existing non-LED equipped aircraft cabins in line with aircraft delivered new with the latest LED lighting systems, helping them achieve impactful brand differentiation and increase airline yields.

Incorporating the latest research into the effects of ambient lighting, liTeMood® also provides significantly increased reliability over traditional lighting systems, thereby reducing ongoing maintenance costs, and also delivers important environmental benefits.  Not only is liTeMood® up to 40kg lighter than original-fit fluorescent lighting, it also consumes 70% less power, increasing both the aircraft’s fuel and electrical efficiency.

DreamJet SAS, operating as La Compagnie, is a French airline, based at Charles de Gaulle Airport, offering an exclusive business class only service between Paris and London and New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

Yann Poudoulec, EVP Technical of DreamJet trading as La Compagnie commented:

“As an all-business class airline, lighting quality is key to our passengers, which is why we have selected STG Aerospace’s liTeMood LED lighting for our latest 757 aircraft.  Having installed safTglo®  on our first 757, the latest SSUL was the obvious choice for our next aircraft.”

Marcus Williams, Director of Sales & Marketing at STG Aerospace, commented:

“STG Aerospace is delighted that after evaluation of the available retrofit LED cabin lighting systems available, DreamJet trading as La Compagnie has selected  liTeMood® for their latest 757, and at the same time have become the first 757 operator to install our latest generation safTglo® SSUL with our new OverCarpet solution. It’s further evidence that STG Aerospace really is leading the way in innovative cabin lighting solutions”. 

 

  • Pioneering aircraft cabin lighting company seeks to enhance local customer service and develop a distinctive regional brand

United Kingdom | April 10, 2015– STG Aerospace, a world-leading pioneer in aircraft lighting technologies, is delighted to announce that it has established an official presence in China with the launch of a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE), STG Aerospace (China) Co., Ltd. based in Shanghai. This new initiative is a reflection of the importance of China as a market for STG Aerospace. According to a recent IATA report, the country is expected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest air passenger market by 2030.

Based in the UK, STG Aerospace also has a manufacturing facility in the US. STG’s CAAC, FAA and EASA-approved product range includes: safTglo®, the pioneering and market-leading photoluminescent emergency floor path system currently installed on over 9000 aircraft worldwide; safTsign™, the leading brand of photoluminescent emergency and informational signage developed for commercial fixed-wing and rotary aircraft; and liTeMood®, a plug-and-play, programmable, LED mood lighting system designed specifically to retrofit commercial aircraft cabins, both to enhance the passenger experience and improve airline metrics.

The new office will enable STG Aerospace to offer an even higher level of service to their growing list of customers for safTglo® and safTsign™ products, including China Eastern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern Airlines. In addition, its presence in the country will provide the company with a base for the ongoing development of cabin lighting tailored to the specific needs and tastes of the Chinese airline passenger.

Nigel Duncan, STG Aerospace’s Chief Executive, commented: “We have been active in the Chinese market for the last decade and are committed to a long-term future in the country. This new subsidiary will not only help us to enhance the service we provide for our Chinese customers, but also enable us to involve local companies and local people in the delivery of innovative, research-based cabin lighting solutions that are not just the best in the marketplace, but the best, specifically, for our Chinese customers”.