Following the previously announced deal, refinishing company AAR Corp. has completed its acquisition of Aircraft Reconfiguration Technologies (ART) from Zim Aircraft Seating.

The $35m cash deal came about as ZIM made the decision to focus on its core seating business, while AAR Corp. wanted to acquire a business with the various certificates needed to perform modifications without reliance on third parties. 

READ: Haeco Cabin acquired by Zim Aircraft Seating

 Yvonne McConachie, Co‑CEO and President of ZIM Americas, says: “This divestiture allows us to simplify our structure and concentrate fully on what we do best: designing and manufacturing world‑class seating solutions. This sharper focus enhances our operational agility, supports faster delivery cycles, and enables our teams to drive greater value for our airline and OEM customers.”

“This acquisition adds FAA Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) to AAR’s Engineering Services capabilities, which will enable AAR to issue supplemental type certificates (STCs) and Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) without reliance on third parties,” said Tom Hoferer, AAR’s Senior Vice President of Repair & Engineering. “Having an ODA enhances our aircraft cabin interior design, manufacturing, and certification offerings, and we are excited to welcome ART to the AAR team.”