EFW prepares production of retrofit hand luggage compartments for A320 family for over 120 aircraft
Swiss and two further airlines go for Airspace L Bins retrofit for their in-service A320 Family
Dresden, Germany, 4th June 2024. Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), Centre of Competence for Airbus Aircraft Conversions (P2F), for lightweight components and cabin systems, is setting up by end of the year a modern manufacturing line for Airspace L Bins, the new upsized overhead bin designed for Airbus’ Single Aisle aircraft. EFW was appointed by Airbus as the manufacturer of the Airspace L Bins for the A320 family after the close collaboration between EFW and the Airbus design team to develop a well-fitting and efficient retrofit product.
After Lufthansa and Iberia Airlines became the first Airbus customers for Airspace L Bins last year, three more airlines selected the new upsized overhead bin upgrade. Besides two undisclosed customers, SWISS will also equip three A320s and five A321s with the new L Bins.
Meanwhile, EFW’s order book adds up a total of over 120 shipset orders. To deliver in time, in cost and in quality, a modern manufacturing line is currently being setup to prepare for industrial rates production at EFW’s subsidiary acosa GmbH. The first L Bins manufactured in an automated process are scheduled to be delivered in Q1 2025.
Airspace L Bins, optimize cabin space utilization by creating 60% more cabin luggage space than the previous generation A320 overhead bins. The L Bins can be retrofitted within 3-5 days with minimum need for cabin modifications. Accordingly, Airspace L Bins are the simplest and most cost-effective solution for A320 Family operators to increase the overhead cabin bag space. At the same time, this retrofit solution brings large overhead bin capacity to their in-service fleets as in their new A320s, fitted from the factory.
Air Space L Bin copared to standard bins for Airbus Single Aisle Aircraft
EFW Team at AIX 2024 showcasing Airbus L Bins and other composite products together with shareholder ST Engineering
About EFW
Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a subsidiary of ST Engineering and Airbus combines is one of the biggest industrial companies in Saxony with its headquarters in Dresden, Germany. As a competency center for freighter conversions, EFW is STC (Suppemental Type Certificate) holder for all recent Airbus conversion programs and has a global network of nine conversion sites in the U.S., in Europe and Asia. The company has some 2,200 employees, had 600+ million € revenues in 2023 and is on a growth course. EFW groups lightweight components are manufactures in Dresden and at the subsidiary acosa in Kodersdorf, Saxony. EFWs lightweight products are not only used in aviation but also in the rail sector. An impressive track record spanning three decades speaks for itself: more than 5 million lightweight products in over 12,000 Airbus aircraft, over 250 converted cargo aircraft and numerous maintenance services on commercial and military aircraft. Airlines and customers worldwide operate EFW's converted cargo aircraft, including the largest express air freight companies in North America and Europe, such as DHL. EFW's shareholders are ST Engineering and Airbus. In order to achieve the ambitious goals EFW hiered 300 experts in 2023. www.efw.aero
About EFW Composites
Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH develops, manufactures and supplies fiber-reinforced lightweight components for Airbus aircraft. The proportion of tailor-made products is high. Numbers speak for themselves: around 50,000 different geometric shapes and 160 material combinations go through the production of so-called "sandwich panels". The product portfolio ranges from floor panels and partition walls to bulletproof cockpit doors or up to modules like crew rest compartments - products with different, very demanding requirements.
EFW received several awards, amongst those the Airbus Best Performance & Quality Award 2019 for Cabin Equipment. With this Best Performance & Quality Award 2019 award, Airbus recognizes EFWs exceptional performance. EFW achieved an outstanding 99.5% delivery reliability across all programs. At the same time, Airbus gave EFW an A rating for the quality level of the components supplied over a longer period of time. In April 2019, EFW had received a Best Performer 'SQUIP' award as a supplier of composite components from Airbus.
