S7 Technics has launched the first automated plant for the production of Airbus aircraft cabin panels in Russia.

The floor and interior panels will be produced at S7 Technics’ base in Mineralnye Vody.

A dedicated 42sq m production area has been created, and the company will be able to produce between 10 and 20 panels per working shift.

These will be manufactured from composite materials approved by aircraft manufacturers by milling on a high-precision computer numerical control (CNC) machine made by Czech company Volter.

“During base maintenance checks such as C check, 30-80 per cent of the aircraft cabin panels are replaced, and according to redelivery check from 60-90 per cent,” noted S7 Technics’ business development project manager Maxim Akchurin. “Our own production of panels will speed up the process of replacing them on aircraft that are undergoing maintenance, thereby reducing the turnaround time.”

S7 Technics said it would focus on the production of panels for A320 family aircraft, but could also manufacturing panels for Boeing and Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft if there proved to be “stable demand”.