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Hilitech has officially opened its new production plant in the Austrian town of Kindberg.

Hilitech is a joint venture of F. LIST GMBH, an internationally active provider of high-end business jet interiors, and Hintsteiner Group GmbH, a leading expert in lightweight composite technology for motorsports and defense applications. The inaugural ceremony on April 11th hosted many prominent guests and demonstrated Hilitech’s unique capabilities and capacities to major decistion makers in the aviation industry.

Katharina List-Nagl, CEO F/LIST (2nd from left), Manfred Nagl, CEO Hilitech (5th from left) and Martin Hintsteiner, CEO Hintsteiner Group (6th from left).

On more than 20,000 ft² in the first expansion stage, over 100 professionals (planned by 2020) develop and manufacture innovative cabin systems, linings and composite components, mainly from carbon fiber. Hilitech’s components count among the lightest on the aircraft market; its portfolio ranges from single components - like sliding doors, tables, toilet seats, shower trays etc. - to full lining accoutrements, high-class cabinets and decorative carbon surfaces and applications. Hilitech components are delivered as a complete and tested interior solution, combined with the benefit of high-quality veneer processing and high-gloss finish by and through F/LIST.

With special production methods and a unique combination of materials, the company has been able to reduce the weight of components by up to 25% compared to conventional construction techniques. Multiple areas of application and the variety of components in business jets demand variable manufacturing processes, tool application and materiality define the final product. For this reason, all tooling is done in-house, for maximum precision and flexibility, via a highly modern production infrastructure including autoclave-/prepreg-technology, vacuum processes, compression molding, wet laminate technology, rapid prototyping technologies, CNC milling, prepreg cutter and 3D scanning.

However, extraordinary processes for extraordinary products require extraordinary knowledge. To build up and retain know how and experts for the long term, Hilitech has initiated its own apprentice training program: the trade of the model maker is a multifaceted craft which can be a starting point for an exciting and challenging career with manifold development possibilities.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 18th April 2019 | Issue #507

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