Collins Aerospace is investing over £16 million (approximately $20.4 million) in research and development at its Kilkeel facility in Northern Ireland to develop what it says will be innovative passenger seating products for long-haul and narrowbody aircraft.

Alan Henning, managing director of operations at the Kilkeel facility, tells Aviation Week that while conceptual details are yet to be specified, he expects the investment “to create the most efficient production system for a new, innovative and highly complex aircraft seat that is far superior to anything else on the market.”

Considering recent aviation supply chain struggles, seat manufacturers and design specialists are learning and placing more emphasis on new techniques and solutions for future seat aftermarket support and maintenance. Henning says Collins will be using the investment to ensure it has the capacity and capabilities to build new, innovative and highly complex aircraft seating products, be that for line-fit or retrofit projects.

Innovative ideas will sometimes conflict with production and supply issues, but Henning says Collins plans to work closely with each tier within its supply chain to plan for production schedules and any associated complexities. “We also conduct our internal supplier readiness assessments to ensure we have consistent visibility to capacity, production and delivery schedules,” he says. “Mid- and long-term forecasts enable our supply chain to plan and manage resources effectively in advance of any production rate changes.”

The new investment is supported by Invest Northern Ireland (NI), which has worked with Collins over many years providing a wide range of financial and advisory support. In May 2021, Northern Ireland launched its “10x Economy” program, which seeks greater collaboration and innovation to grow the economy over the next decade.

According to Invest NI, Northern Ireland currently manufactures 30% of the global demand for aircraft seats and the industry is an important part of the region’s advanced manufacturing and engineering sector, which has been identified as a priority cluster within the 10x strategy.