SABIC Introduces Additions to its Aircraft Interior Materials Portfolio at the AIX Show in Hamburg; Cabin Model Display Showcases Leading Solutions

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business is launching two new material innovations and exhibiting a range of high-performance thermoplastic solutions that are helping aviation customers reduce weight and costs, enhance safety and sustainability, and optimize the flying experience at the Aircraft Interiors EXPO, Hall B7 Booth 7B70. SABIC’s relevant and compliant portfolio of resin, sheet, foam, fiber and composite materials and technologies are playing a key role in answering these trends, helping aircraft OEMs conserve fuel and lower emissions; meet increasingly stringent flame-smoke-toxicity (FST) regulations; and enhance the comfort, aesthetics and distinctiveness of the cabin environment.

SABIC launches industry-first clear and lightweight LEXAN™ sheet solutions for aircraft interiors

SABIC’s aerospace portfolio, including two new revolutionary LEXAN™ sheet solutions for aircraft interiors --  will be displayed on a small scale aircraft cabin model featuring applications using SABIC materials. The new products – clear LEXAN XHR2000 sheet, with 80% light transmission – the highest level of light transmission available in an OSU-compliant sheet material today – also meets typical industry flame, smoke, toxicity (FST) requirements (FAR25.853, BSS7239, ABD0031) and the patent pending LEXAN LIGHT F6L300 sheet, the lightest thermoplastic sheet option available today, will help provide long awaited solutions to airlines’ quest for differentiated cabin interior designs while also helping to take out significant weight, resulting in more a fuel efficient aircraft. Design engineers will benefit from these lightweight, durable materials, which can help to reduce system costs, offer ease of fabrication and comply with the industry’s strict regulatory standards. Cabin dividers made with the clear LEXAN XHR2000 sheet; a magazine holder thermoformed out of LEXAN LIGHT F6L306 sheet by Zodiac Engineering Plastics, and an aircraft sidewall made with LEXAN LIGHT F6L306 sheet by Hagans Plastics will be on display.

SABIC’s focus on customer needs for regulatory-compliant solutions for cabin interiors, seating, galleys and monuments, as well as hidden spaces inspires the company’s ongoing development of high performance materials and technologies. “SABIC continues to be a trusted partner for aerospace tiers and OEMs because of our demonstrated commitment to supporting the innovations that help our customers meet their most challenging demands,” Kim Choate, Marketing Director, Mass Transportation for SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business, said.

New Opportunities to Reduce Weight While Maintaining Strength

Aircraft Interiors EXPO attendees visiting the SABIC booth will see the Pitch Aircraft Seating PF2000, complete two rows of seating with innovative design features optimizing passenger space. The lightweight modular construction, which uses SABIC’s lightweight, FST and OSU 65/65 compliant LEXAN XHR sheet and ULTEM resin materials, allows airlines to select functionality and aesthetic options to better express their brand.

The booth will also feature the award-winning LSG Sky Chefs and Norduyn1 in-flight trolleys, certified as the lightest in the world. They incorporate UV-resistant ULTEMTM resin for the extrusion profiles and door latch, while ultra-tough NORYLTM resin replaces metal in the frame and other components. The weight-reducing design helps airlines improve fuel efficiency while enhancing durability and flame retardance. The ability to custom-color ULTEM resin allows Norduyn and LSG Sky Chefs to offer trolleys in the relevant airlines’ brand colors.

Versatile, FST- and OSU-compliant ULTEM 9085 resin will be showcased in a 3D plane model from Stratasys, fabricated using Stratasys’ patented Fused Deposition Modeling®, a direct digital manufacturing process (DDM). The 3d-printed model demonstrates how low-volume parts with complex geometries can be made quickly and cost-effectively.

SABIC’s new super low gloss LEXAN XHR sheet which delivers superior weight-out of up to 12% vs. traditional PVC/PMMA products, will be showcased in cabin interior wall cladding. In addition, window shades made from multi-layer, opaque LEXAN XHR 5000 sheet which can eliminate unsightly carbon mark-off, will be featured.

SABIC is also displaying a passenger service unit (PSU) engineered and supplied by PECO Manufacturing for the new Boeing 737 BSI using LEXAN™ FST and ULTEM resins. PECO used an integrated structural design which consolidated parts in order to reduce the footprint of the PSU. The use of ULTEM 9085 resin enabled thinner walls, resulting in a 30% smaller unit with considerable weight savings.

PHOTO:

SABIC’s aerospace portfolio, including two new revolutionary LEXAN™ sheet solutions for aircraft interiors --  will be displayed on a small scale aircraft cabin model featuring applications using SABIC materials. Aircraft Interiors EXPO attendees visiting the SABIC booth will see the Pitch Aircraft Seating PF2000, complete two rows of seating with innovative design features optimizing passenger space. The lightweight modular construction, which uses SABIC’s lightweight, FST and OSU 65/65 compliant LEXAN XHR sheet and ULTEM resin materials, allows airlines to select functionality and aesthetic options to better express their brand.

Notes to Editors

• Brands marked with ™ are trademarks of SABIC
• SABIC is a registered trademark of SABIC Holding Europe B.V.
• High-resolution photos are available upon request
• SABIC should be written in every instance in all uppercase

About SABIC

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.

SABIC has announced its unaudited financial results with a net profit of SR 25.23 (US$ 6.73 billion) in 2013. Sales revenues for 2013 totaled SR 189 billion (US$ 50.4 billion). Total assets stood at SR 339 billion (US$ 90.4 billion) at the end of 2013.

SABIC’s businesses are grouped into Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics. SABIC has significant research resources with 18 dedicated Technology & Innovation facilities in Saudi Arabia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, India, China and South Korea. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with around 40,000 employees worldwide.

SABIC manufactures on a global scale in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

About Innovative Plastics

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with an 80-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as Healthcare, Transportation, Automotive, Electrical, Lighting and Consumer Electronics. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).

1 Norduyn is involved in the design, certification and manufacturing of innovative products for commercial, business and military aviation markets. For more information, please visit Norduyn.  

Innovative Plastics Media Contacts

Banu Kukner – Functional Forms

E: banu.kukner@sabic-ip.com

T: +31 164-291605

Jason Forget – Innovative Plastics

E: media.inquiries@sabic-ip.com

T: +1 413-448-5890

Agency Media Contacts

James Page

E: jpage@webershandwick.com

P: +44 207-067-0206