Award-winner for the second time as part of a festive gala at the Museum of Technology in Berlin
More than 350 guests from business, politics and the media accepted the exclusive invitation. The innovation prize is awarded by the "Rat für Formgebung" (German Design Council), which was founded in 1953 following an initiative by the German Bundestag.
Diehl Aviation is among the winners in 2019. The international supplier of aircraft system and cabin solutions convinced with its Skypax cabin monument and was awarded the German Innovation Award in "Gold" in the category "Excellence in Business to Business - Aviation & Maritime Technologies".
The jury of the German Innovation Award explained in its statement that the Skypax combination module not only comprises a galley, but also two lavatory units, which can be quickly and easily converted into a spacious lavatory accessible to the disabled with a hinged intermediate door. Moreover, the jury acknowledged that the compact module weighs less than competitors' products yet is equally robust, convenient and easy to clean. In addition, the comfort for wheelchair users and the significantly lower weight, which saves a lot of CO2 emissions, were also decisive factors.
Diehl Aviation developed the Skypax Monument in cooperation with Lufthansa Technik. It is produced by Diehl, while the partner LHT takes care of the installation on cabin conversions. Skypax is a solution designed to optimize space utilization with galleys and lavatories in the tail of standard fuselage aircraft such as the A320. This solution is aimed at the cabin retrofit market, allowing airlines to modernize and optimize the equipment of their cabins. The installation of Skypax will provide airlines with space for up to 12 additional seats in the cabin. The integration of the Lufthansa Camera Assistant also eliminates the need for cost-intensive and complicated solutions for cabin crew seats.
The evaluation criteria of the German Innovation Award cover topics such as the level of innovation, user benefits and cost-effectiveness. With the German Innovation Award, the German Design Council honors pioneering innovations that have a lasting effect and offer users added value. A total of 695 applications were received, including from industry giants such as Samsung, Bosch, Deutsche Telekom and the Swiss ABB group, as well as from hidden champions and start-ups.
Diehl Aviation is a division of Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG and combines all aviation activities of Diehl Group under one roof. In the aviation industry, Diehl Aviation – including Diehl Aerospace (a joint venture with Thales) – is a leading system supplier of aircraft system and cabin solutions. Diehl Aviation currently has about 6,000 employees. Its clients include leading aircraft manufacturers Airbus (both airplanes and helicopters), Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer, as well as airlines and operators of commercial and business aircraft.