Lufthansa Technik (LT) is recognized in the design world for its “water transfer printing” process, which yields customized, high-grade surfaces on interior panels and cabin elements that can mimic fine-grain wood, carbon fiber and stone. Used in VIP interiors, the time-consuming process requires applying a wafer-thin film and careful varnishing. Now LT has automated some of the process, a move that “will shorten our lead times while maintaining an even higher standard of quality,” said Thorsten Hagemann, at LT’s VIP & Special Mission Aircraft division.

Meanwhile, with the galley portion of business aircraft in mind, Hamburg-based LT has also introduced an induction cooker that fits in any aircraft galley, weighing less than 30 pounds and measuring less than one inch by two inches by one inch. The all-in-one unit comes with an exhaust fan and a cover that keeps pots and pans in place in turbulence, and also accommodates a rice cooker and toaster. Something of a test kitchen in itself, LT is in discussions with potential customers, flight attendants and chefs to gauge market interest in the device and refine its design.