Airborne galleys from SELL in Herborn

Broad range of aviation services

Bertrandt provides services covering broad areas of aircraft development, which range from developing systems, components, structures and cabins through to interfaces between production and development (manufacturing engineering). The Bertrandt teams are constantly extending their expertise in these fields. The partnership between SELL GmbH from Herborn and the Bertrandt Hamburg site has contributed to the overall growth in Bertrandt’s competence.

Where past and present meet

Bertrandt makes use of its comprehensive technical knowledge to enable both the aviation and the automotive industries to benefit from the synergies between them in areas such as lightweight design, electronics and seat development. In particular in the field of CFRP development and simulation, Bertrandt has a strong position on the international market, which has proved beneficial for SELL GmbH in Herborn. The development engineers at Bertrandt are helping SELL to continue its long-term success story. As early as 1955 the first SELL aircraft galleys, named after the founder of the company, were installed in a Lufthansa Super Constellation. At the time, no one suspected that SELL would become world market leader in the production of modern aircraft galleys over the decades to come. The company is still thriving today. In 2012 large and small airlines from throughout the world are still fitting SELL galleys in all types of aircraft. For example, in 2010 almost half the long-haul aircraft produced by the world’s two largest manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, were equipped with premium galleys from SELL. The Bertrandt engineers have played a part in this process. The successful partnership between the two companies began in 2008 when Bertrandt provided design and production services at SELL’s two sites in Herborn and Homberg. In 2009 for the first time Bertrandt took complete responsibility for designing components for the Airbus A380 galley. This laid the basis for the provision of further design services for SELL.

Challenges in galley design

The constantly changing requirements for the galleys, which consist of several thousand individual parts, represent one of the main challenges faced by the Bertrandt engineers during the design process. The specific technical restrictions and cost constraints placed on new design projects result, for example, from the individual catering and comfort concepts of the airline in question. Depending on the routes that the aircraft will fly on (long-haul or short-haul), a different number of storage areas, ovens, coffee machines and trolleys is needed. In addition, the requirements of the aircraft manufacturer influence the designs produced by the Bertrandt design engineers for the SELL galleys. The main considerations in this area are space restrictions resulting from the aircraft structure, different interfaces between the galley and the aircraft and maximum weights for storage areas. In addition to the specifications of the different airlines and aircraft manufacturers, the special requirements that apply to products used in the aviation industry also have to be taken into account. Inflammable materials, structural specifications and preventing injury to galley users are just some of the factors that have to be considered. Human factors are playing an increasingly important role in Bertrandt aviation development projects and this helps to ensure that the resulting products are user-friendly, ergonomic and labour-saving. During the process of designing the SELL galleys, the Bertrandt engineers develop the structural components and integrate all the necessary systems, including electrics, ventilation, cooling and water. When all the requirements are taken into consideration, it is clear that each of an airline’s new aircraft requires a complex new galley, which is developed by SELL with the support of the Bertrandt engineers.

Moving forward together

The purchase of SELL in 2010 by the multinational ZODIAC Aerospace group laid the foundations for a long-term strategic partnership with Bertrandt. Over the next few years, Bertrandt’s aviation expertise across several disciplines will prove valuable in helping to accommodate the airlines’ increasing focus on the passenger experience and on style. Complex free-form surfaces and innovative lighting concepts are just two examples of the growing trend for customisation, particularly in galleys and bars. SELL’s leading market position enables it to meet these customer requirements. The Bertrandt engineers can provide expert services to help SELL to move towards a successful future.