A 2007 Citation XLS is the first aircraft of its size to feature fully hydro-dipped cabinetry implemented by Duncan Aviation. The company also installed an FMS upgrade.
“Being able to dip an entire cabinet of an XLS is truly an accomplishment,” said Angie Coleman, completions and modifications sales representative at Duncan Aviation. “Although the design possibilities are endless and hydro-dipping is a more cost-effective solution compared to a re-veneer, the process still requires the same attention to detail, which is where the Duncan Aviation finish team excels.”
Critical to the success of the Duncan Aviation finish shop is the mechanisation it has developed for the hydro-dipping process. The mechanical arm, which is used to dip components, makes the process more consistent and manageable for larger components, such as a galley cabinet.
Duncan Aviation finish shop team leader Chris Nelson said they can hydrodip nearly anything. “We have hydro-dipped larger components in the past, but this is the first galley we have hydro-dipped using the arm,” he added. “The arm allows for our team to dip large objects with ease, and mitigate the possibility of imperfections. We are always looking for ways to stay innovative and deliver the best possible products of the highest quality to our customers.”
Interior manager Jared Stauffer said that the project demonstrates the creativity of the team and its passion for serving customers’ needs. “As customer demand increased for larger monuments, Nelson and his team identified local talent to customise a tool that met our needs,” said Stauffer. “I’m proud of this team’s ability to adapt to our customers’ needs and engineer solutions to meet their requests.”
