Thermoplastic Galley Trolley for Aircraft Interiors

This project was completed under the company name TenCate Advanced Composites, prior to our acquisition by Toray Industries and name change to Toray Advanced Composites in 2019.

Composite materials are progressively replacing aluminum and other metal alloys in commercial airplanes to save weight and, as such, reduce operating costs.

As a part of this trend, TenCate recently supplied its TenCate Cetex® TC1000 design thermoplastic composite laminates to Driessen (part of the Zodiac group) for the new Hybrite lightweight trolley range. The Driessen Hybrite product range is designed to blend into the most stylish, modern, and technical advanced cabin interiors while exceeding stringent aerospace safety and fire requirements.

Part of TenCate’s product development process involves finding ways to ensure the lowest environmental footprint over the product’s life cycle without compromising safety or adding weight. An additional benefit of the TenCate Cetex® laminate is the ability to integrate surface decorations through sublimation printing. Using this innovative image transfer technique it is possible to replicate almost every graphic up to near photo quality, saving time and money by avoiding decal application.

The benefits of TenCate Cetex® for aircraft interiors include:

• Excellent FST performance
• No freezer storage required
• Rapid processing with cycle times less than 3 minutes
• Very low moisture absorption
• Good solvent resistance
• Ideal for customer-qualified design programs
• Range of textures available from gloss, matt, brushed, and anti-slip
• Broad color palette, including white, blue tone, and light and dark gray