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HAMBURG—Diehl Aviation is introducing eDecor, an electronic wallpaper designed to change instantly the look of an interior, thus offering new possibilities in branding and cabin atmosphere.
The introduction of eDecor is taking place as carriers may look for new ways to differentiate. In economy class, the quest for lightness is making seats similar in appearance and comfort. In business class, the quest for comfort and privacy is making layouts almost interchangeable. Diehl’s eDecor may help carriers differ from one another, at least visually.
The eDecor wallpaper relies on E-Ink technology: once a colored pattern is set, it remains stable without requiring power or generating heat. As in e-readers and electronic price tags, color-changing microcapsules embedded in the film adjust based on applied electrical signals, allowing for instantaneous and high-resolution design changes. Changing the decor involves 2.4 Watt/m2.
“With eDecor, we are transforming how airlines approach cabin design,” Joerg Schuler, CEO of Diehl Aviation, says. “For the first time, carriers can seamlessly adapt their interiors mid-flight. This innovation opens up new possibilities for branding, operational flexibility, and passenger engagement.”
An operator may want to change the look of a cabin for one flight, to reflect a codeshare agreement. In a narrowbody, the number of rows devoted to a business class cabin may change from flight to flight, and the sidewall’s color may adapt to make business and economy classes recognizable. Non-safety-related information, such as a sign indicating Wi-Fi is available, could be displayed.
The eDecor film can follow contours and shapes, thus covering partition walls and seat row numbering areas. Cabin crew members control the scenarios, which may change according to the flight phase, via the flight attendant panel. The film has passed flammability tests and Diehl’s engineers are talking to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency about both line-fit and retrofit applications.
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