Hong Kong-based plastic injection molding companies, Vigor Precision, is developing an airline seat manufacturing business. The company has made its first seat for the Airbus A340, and has high hopes to manufacturer seats for other commercial aircraft, and other non-critical aircraft parts, including trolleys, crew seats and toilets, all of which use plastics components.
Vigor owns 65% of a consortium of six Hong Kong firms called Universal Aviation Industrial, which is being funded by the Hong Kong government to develop this business and so far the government has provided 85% of the HK$11.6 million (US$1.49 million) research spend.
Hong Kong officials say it is part of their strategy to help small manufacturers beat cheaper competition from mainland China and elsewhere, and move into higher-tech, more profitable markets.
The companies will spend about HK$20 million (US$2.57 million) of their own money to set up manufacturing, beyond the research funding.
Universal expects to launch commercial production in 2013 in space at one of Vigor’s injection molding factories in Dongguan, China, said Henry H.H. Chan, president of both Vigor and Universal.
China enters airline seats market
