Thompson Aero Seating (TAS), a designer and manufacturer of aircraft seating, has been ranked third overall among Europe’s most impactful small projects (below US$50 million) in the Financial Times Group’s Investment Impact Awards.
The Northern Ireland-based company was recognised for the investment in its Dynamic Test Facility (DTF) in Banbridge, County Down, which is used to simulate crash conditions and certify aircraft seating for safety and regulatory compliance. Tools at the DTF include a reverse accelerator sled that can produce up to 100g accelerations.
The DTF is first facility of its kind on the island of Ireland, representing a total investment of £7.5 million and a boost to the region’s reputation as a centre of excellence in aerospace testing and certification. The facility was built with the support of Invest NI, which played a significant role in securing the investment and provided £750,000 of capital.
The Investment Impact Awards recognise foreign direct investment projects with transformative potential in locations across Europe. There is a particular focus on individual projects and their contributions to factors such as innovation, job creation and sustainability.
Regarding innovation, TAS has seen direct benefits from the DTF, including in the development of its VantageNOVA business-class seating platform. TAS has secured multiple orders for the seat from international airlines, which have contributed to the company’s total order book worth over £1.2 billion. TAS says these new contracts would not have been possible without having the DTF as a resource.
In terms of job creation, when the DTF opened in 2023, it created new high-value roles across engineering, design, testing and operations, and it continues to do so. There are further workforce benefits driven by the large order book.
The DTF’s capability for full in-house certification has also enabled TAS to reduce lead times for its products by at least six weeks, and to reduce its annual cost savings by £1.6 million, with benefits that ripple across the supply chain and support sector-wide productivity.
The awards criterion of sustainability is met as the DTF contributes to the UK’s Destination Net Zero goals by supporting R&D into lightweight seating, which reduces fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. And with the facility being local to TAS, also cuts the carbon footprint associated with overseas outsourcing.
“We are delighted that our DTF has been recognised as such a significant investment in the whole of Europe. What is really pleasing is that the awards acknowledge the meaningful difference this investment makes locally as well as across the continent – in terms of not only innovation and development but also job creation and positive benefits to the community,” said Keith Anderson, CEO at Thompson Aero Seating.
“We are celebrating Thompson stamping its mark on Europe’s economic future and also the very real impact our DTF is having at a local and regional level in Northern Ireland.”
