Solve3D - British Airways Club World Sky Bed

In early 2005 the team at Solve 3D were approached by London based product design consultants Tangerine and asked to produce a full appearance mock-up of their re-designed Club World Sky Bed for British Airways.

The Initial model was a centre quad to be installed at British Airways cabin development centre. Working closely with project coordinator Matt Round of Tangerine Solve 3D commenced production with what seemed an impossible deadline.

Construction and detailing data changed on an almost daily basis during the whole period of construction. At this early stage, only the basic principle of how the construction was to be assembled and held together was understood. The reality of how all of the components of the model would lock together, hinge, slide, and be demountable was left to the engineering design skills of Solve 3D. A light weight construction was essential; however the structure had to be able to withstand fully grown adults treating it as they would a production assembly. It was testament to Tangerine’s design work that the form of the surrounding structure was inherently strong and self supporting; however with such a tight time scale it was left to Solve 3D to “make it happen”. The additions of Leather trim and meticulously executed final detailing preceded installation in the CDC, on time and on budget.

For the remainder of 2005 Solve 3D modified the mock-up and built a number of strong test rigs for ergonomic appraisal by tangerine and BA.
By the end of 2005, the design was finalised at which point Solve 3D produced a further mock-up of the ‘centre quad’ formation to assist with the familiarisation training of the cabin crews.

January 2006 and Solve 3D were once again asked to produce mock-up’s of an entire row, consisting of a quad, a left and right hand window pair and 10 free standing foot, stools for assembly in the CDC. These mock ups were of the up-to-date design and for the final press launch of British Airways ‘Club World’ seating. The models were correct in every detail, strong enough for normal use, in addition they demonstrated articulating monitors, trays and foot stool positioning.

By May 2006 Solve 3D had completed the work, on time, on Budget and to the total satisfaction of Tangerine and British Airways.

Only a small number of companies in the UK have the experience and expertise to work in this way and “make things happen”. The cost savings to the client both in time and their need not to have to finalise every aspect of a build project make using Solve 3D and invaluable resource.