Press Release

Issued by ST Engineering Aerospace (Singapore).

February 11, 2016

ST Aerospace today opened its new vip aircraft interiors centre at the Seletar Aerospace Park in Singapore. With this new facility, ST Aerospace will bring its full suite of vip luxury cabin interior design, engineering, installation and maintenance services to the region, serving customers from across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

With a core team comprising highly skilled engineers and craftsmen, ST Aerospace's newly added Singapore vip aircraft interiors centre will design, upholster and fabricate cabin interiors, as well as provide maintenance for narrow-body vip aircraft, including the Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) and Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ), while conceptual design and certification continue to be supported by its San Antonio vip interiors team.

This facility is ST Aerospace's second of its kind; the first was established in 2011 at San Antonio, Texas. The Singapore facility leverages the experience and track record of the successful American facility. All engineers and craftsmen of ST Aerospace's new vip aircraft interiors business have received skills training at San Antonio, the birthplace of large aircraft vip completions which has access to the skilled craftsmen and highly trained engineering talent pool in that region.

“ST Aerospace's vip aircraft interiors centre is an example of how local companies can move up the value chain by diversifying into high value-added design and engineering services,” said Mr Lim Kok Kiang, assistant managing director of Singapore Economic Development Board. “This centre adds vibrancy to our aerospace ecosystem, and enhances Singapore's attractiveness as a hub from which premium aftermarket services are offered to the region.”

“We see potential in reaching out to customers in this region for vip aircraft interiors,” said Mr Lim Serh Ghee, president of ST Aerospace. “Besides increasing our geographical footprint to provide convenience to customers in this region, what is also exciting is the amount of skills transfer involved. New skills are imparted from our successful set-up in the US, to ensure we offer the same level of aesthetics, engineering and on-time delivery. Going up the value chain, we believe this new capability in Singapore offers a complete suite of services that cover design, engineering and craftsmanship, enhancing the already strong aviation ecosystem here.”

Bringing new skills to ST Aerospace's new vip interior centre in Singapore

ST Aerospace's new Singapore-based vip interiors centre will create 70 new skilled jobs, which will be undertaken by engineers, technicians and craftsmen. In fact, to uphold the high standards associated with ST Aerospace and AERIA Luxury Interiors brands, a core group of personnel underwent training in San Antonio to learn the detailed processes that go into vip completions, from cabinetry and upholstery, to interiors deign, certification and installation, ensuring the same levels of attention to detail and service at the Singapore facility.

A Centre of Excellence for vip aircraft interiors and refurbishments

Officially opened today by Dr Koh Poh Koon, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and National Development, the 2,690sqm centre of excellence for vip aircraft interiors comprises a hangar capable of accommodating a Boeing 757 aircraft, design studio, workshops for carpentry, upholstery, sanding and painting, as well as offices for the sales and marketing teams.

Taking design to a new level

To meet the needs of high-profile aircraft owners, ST Aerospace's vip interiors design team will adopt a consultative design process with the customer or their manager, allowing them to customise each design element for the aircraft, down to the smallest details such as wood grain, fabric, decorative features, and even the upholstery stitching.

To facilitate this consultative approach, the interiors centre is equipped with facilities that allow aircraft owners to work with in-house designers to visualise the interior of their aircraft through 3D renderings and 3D printing of scale models for the most realistic impression of each element before the production phase.

Upon agreement of the layout and furnishings, the team will proceed to work on the carpentry, upholstery, and entertainment systems, for fabrication and installation.

In addition to the opening ceremony today, ST Aerospace confirmed a strong start as it announced the clinching of five major refurbishment and maintenance contracts, of which two projects, involving an A319 ACJ and a Boeing 737 BBJ, will take place at its new vip interiors centre in Singapore. This, along with the strong demand shown at its San Antonio facility, and a steady growth of private aircraft ownership in Asia, are signs that the investment is one in the right direction.