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Groundbreaking Quantum
Jointly developed by LSG Sky Chefs and Norduyn, the Quantum Lightweight Trolley represents significant savings across the spectrum
As airlines continue to move towards a more eco-friendly position, increased emphasis has been placed upon creating in-flight services products that are more environmentally sound and can significantly reduce costs. Currently, many airlines have to deal with cumbersome trolleys that were designed back in the 80s. They are heavy, use substantial amounts of dry ice, require somewhat regular and costly maintenance and have a look and feel of the 80s, which often clashes with the image and branded messaging of most airlines. However, with many airlines looking to take advantage of solutions that reduce onboard weight, LSG Sky Chefs, in partnership with Norduyn, a long-standing supplier of galley equipment, has developed Quantum – a groundbreaking, ultra-light trolley series.
Three years in the making
During the design phase of the Quantum trolley, focus was put on combining increased value for airlines with environmental responsibility. And, after three years of development and testing, the trolley, which has met all the requirements for certification, is now ready to go into production. The Quantum trolley brings a number of innovations to the market including a lighter, sturdier and more impact resistant single shell body, made from glass fibre, resin and foam. Thanks to this unique construction, the trolley weighs a full 3 to 4 kilos less than newly built aluminium framed trolleys. Obviously there is a series of benefits for airlines that switch to ultra-light trolleys. This includes reduced fuel consumption, which not only provides instant savings but also improves the environmental image of an airline (thanks to the expected savings on fuel the projected ROI of quantum trolleys is within 3 years). The trolley also reduces dry ice consumption by up to 50 per cent depending on the specific configuration. And, with significantly fewer parts than a conventional light weight trolley, maintenance is required less frequently and when it is necessary it can be carried out much faster. Furthermore, the design life for Quantum trolleys is expected to exceed ten years.
Technical properties of Quantum
However, the benefits offered with the new
trolley are not only financial; an embedded RFID chip means every unit can be tracked by fleet management. And, because the trolleys are lighter, they are easier to handle and quieter, improving both the crew and passenger experience. The trolleys can also be customised to meet airlines’ needs, whether it’s a particular colour, accessory or technical adjustment. Quantum trolleys are currently available in ATLAS full-size and half-size versions. Airline specific configurations can also be accommodated. Thorough testing of the trolleys has been carried out by both LSG Sky Chefs’ airline partners and at independent laboratories such as SGS/TÜV, Sabic, Isovolta, Tente, JohnsonDiversey, and Barta, among others. This includes 17 material tests, 28 application tests and five miscellaneous tests.
The half-sized version of the trolley weighs in at less than 10 kg. This is a 40 per cent reduction compared to legacy aluminium trolleys, and an industry first, which obviously offers significant savings potential. A Boeing 747 fully- loaded with Quantum ultra-light, eco-friendly trolleys for example, would have approximately 850 kg less weight on board, which amounts to about €80,000 a year in fuel savings. The environment would also benefit with an impressive 350 tons reduction of CO2 emissions. Now more than ever, the industry faces a number of challenges, and it’s clear that airlines are whole–heartedly searching for ways to both stretch their budgets and become more eco- friendly, while maintaining passenger satisfaction. Fortunately, the trend towards products which help solve both problems seems to be here to stay, and not a moment too soon.
In addition to the certification test, extensive material and functional tests have successfully simulated ten years of design life.
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