Article by: Rick Roseman
Tapis products can be seen across many space programs. We were on Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and NASA. In addition, we are a part of some future space programs, which we are not able to name quite yet.
- Lauren Kenealy - Marketing Manager
Historic Blue Origin manned space capsule
One of the advantage we have over competitors, is not only the quality of our products, but our quantity of products. We have a material to match almost any interior design, but in the chance that customers want something specific (color, pattern, design, etc.), we’re able to create that custom. Lastly, there is Space: Tapis products can be seen across many space programs. We were on Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and NASA. In addition, we are a part of some future space programs, which we are not able to name quite yet. These Tapis products are designed specifically for the space industry to cope with their unique mission attributes. From our advanced flammability packages to meeting the needs of an oxygen-enriched environments, to providing bump protection for zero gravity experiences.
Very impressive. My wife and I are looking to book a trip to Mars in the fall. We will look for your fabrics :) In terms of brand awareness, it seems like Tapis Corp is ubiquitous in the US. It’s certainly the first name I think of when I think aviation soft goods. But I know that Botany and maybe a few others have a significant market presence in Europe. Can you tell us how many of your customers are European vs. US, and if you attend the big aviation shows in Europe?
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Sure. So, Tapis started out as a 3 person company, which Karen Caputo, expanded into a global organization. We have team members across the United States (New York and California), our two European Sales Managers are located in the UK and our final sales manager is located in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia to target our Asia-Pacific customers. While we have a strong brand in the United States, we feel that we are globally known as well. We have won some major programs recently in the Asia-Pacific region, have been supplying commercial vertical surface materials to Europe and Asia for many years, and we work with many corporate completion centers outside of the US. When it comes to European tradeshows, the only one we exhibit at is AIX Hamburg, which we have had great success with throughout the years. However, for the other European shows, we always try to have a Tapis rep attend.
Ultraleather / Color Array
Ultrasuede Color / Textural Array
We walk in the shoes of our customers. It's an integral part of our brand platform. We remain true to that precept and our strengths. It's literally in our family DNA, all set in motion by Al and Karen Caputo, back in 1977.
- Jason Estes - Global Sales & Marketing
Excellent, I stand corrected. Obviously you have quite a global footprint. Ok, so I’ve always loved your Grospoint collection. While these applications are certainly not the first thing you see in a new interior, they are important, especially I think from a tactile perspective and their ability to quietly protect carry-ons, breakables etc. Are these proprietary; that is to say, were the developed in house?
“You are absolutely right when you say that “these applications are certainly not the first thing you see” but the thing about our Grospoint collection is we believe it shouldn’t be a point of attention. Our Grospoint collection is used on Stowage, drawer liners, bulkheads, etc.- areas that are just glanced at. The 100% wool face makes the collection more durable than other options on the market, meaning that the items will be protected and the material will hold up to the high wearability it will face. Other materials, can start to pill, shed, wear down, etc. which people will then notice – obviously not what you want. Our Grospoint collection is very good at keeping the same look it had on day one, which is why we feel it should go unnoticed. As for in-house treatment, we treat all our materials for FR at our Dallas facility. We also offer the option of a soil protector, which helps to keep out stains, dirt, etc. from these high-wear areas.”
“Cool! I love Grosspoints. Also, while we’re on the subject of proprietary, I’ve noticed that you offer something called ‘breathable technology’ within your Ultrafabrics line. Breathable leathers have for years now been popular in automotive of course, so it seems a natural for aviation customers. Can you tell us how you came to develop this and how well received it’s been with your customer base?”
“The concept of breathable technology has been a big part of Ultrafabrics® history, especially since they are a big player in the furniture and automotive industry. However, their original material Brisa® had a backcloth that was not the best for aviation. As you know, the testing requirements are stringent compared to other markets. We saw the opportunity and interest within the market for the attributes Ultrafabrics® breathable materials offered; which is when Bolero and Contour Stretch were created. Tapis switched the backcloth of Brisa® to rayon. Bolero has a 100% rayon backcloth, while Contour Stretch has 80% rayon and 20% nylon for multidirectional stretch. These materials have been a customer favorite since we released the product line. The lightweight, breathable materials offer astonishing acoustical properties and a subtle grain that is perfect for private vertical applications.
Thank you. Having been a designer, I know how important it is to keep it fresh for your customers – and often that means going totally custom – something that will remain totally unique to your aircraft(s). I realize the majority of this occurs within your commercial sector, but do you ever create customs for VVIP or other private customers?
“Customization is something that is very popular across all markets. As you mentioned, commercial seating and vertical surfaces are where we see it the most, but within private, VVIP, and space we have, and continue to create custom materials. Within private and VVIP we mostly have custom color requests, these are usually custom whites, greys, beiges, etc. however, we have had some “fun” colors like pink, mint, purple, and yellow. Another very popular request across the private and VVIP market has been custom patterns on our Ultrasuede® and TapiSuede™. These patterns can be applied via printing (resin, dye), laser etching, dye sublimation, pinsonic, and embossing. These patterns can be anything ranging from marble print to lasering a custom logo.”
“Sounds like an incredible range of custom options.”
Exactly. And when custom color and patterns are not what the customer is looking for, we have previously created entirely custom materials to meet the customer’s needs. We have created a custom backcloth that made the material a multidirectional stretch. We have created materials varying in thickness and weight to aid in customers’ design goals (lightweight, more durable, etc). We have even had the opportunity to customize materials that include more plant-based materials. Additionally, we are able to add treatments such as ink and stain resistance, antimicrobial, advanced UV protection, and anti-static.”
“On the heels of COVID, everyone is concerned about microbial inhibitors and other forms of pathogen containment. Also ease of maintenance. Can you please tell us how much of a role these factors play in the development of your products?”
“Cleanability was always something that we focused on. Ultrafabrics® offers materials such as Ultraleather® Pro, Linen, and Promessa® AV feature antimicrobial protection built into the product. The inherent antimicrobial protection, a silver ion-based agent, prevents the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Since silver ions do not readily evaporate nor dissolve the efficacy will be long-lasting. Silver ions are not to be confused with nano-silver which has been shown to leach out, contaminating other surfaces, and can be absorbed into the human body. Additionally, the added protection does not contain Triclosan or Triclocarban. The metallic ion structure of the antimicrobial agent is approved for applications including textile use and specifically polycarbonate polymers and is registered by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). However, being antimicrobial does not mean that these materials do no need to be cleaned. Our commercial materials are able to be UVC disinfected and cleaned with the most common household cleaners. The cleanability of our commercial products also minimizes the need for dry cleaning and professional services.
As for corporate customers, Ultraleather® Pro is one of our best sellers due to its antimicrobial and ink and stain-resistant solution. The ink and stain resistance solution protects against ballpoint ink, common stains such as lipstick, wine, and ketchup, and even protects against denim transfer. Ultraleather® Pro is also able to be cleaned with most household cleaners. Ultrasuede® is another material that is great in the sense of cleanability. The material is non-woven meaning that it does not trap dirt and stains. Ultrasuede® can easily be cleaned with soap and water to take stains out; stains such as wine, makeup, and soy sauce can easily be removed.
I’m assuming that almost all your products meet FAA Part 25.853 regulatory burn requirements (and EASA equivalents). Is this true and can you expand on that a bit? Do any of your products require further treatment, post-delivery?
“100% of our products meet FAA and EASA requirements. Our standard materials are able to meet the requirements of the typical FR treatment we apply at our Dallas facility. However, when we start working with commercial vertical surface materials, we sometimes face hurdles due to the additional testing requirements. Our technical team creates different FR (or BC) treatments to ensure that each material passes. Additionally, the material pairing (foam, panel, etc.) can differ due to the product.”
Your custom laser etching certainly caught my attention. This also seems like a great way for designers to flex their creativity. Can you tell us how this works and which products it’s available on?
Laser etching is a custom design option available on our suede products (Ultrasuede® and TapiSuede™). That material’s pattern is created using an electronic laser to etch out the design. Some of our most popular designs include laser triangles, laser wood, and even laser logos!
Lastly, I think our readers would like to know how you see the business aviation climate at the moment. There are many articles predicting significant growth over the next few years – but of course there is a looming potential recession in the US. How does Tapis view the next five years in aviation?
While we have seen a lot of growth within the last two years, we feel that private aviation will only continue to grow. Previously private aviation was strictly for those who were incredibly wealthy. Now, it has become a more obtainable luxury through jet sharing, leasing, and charter programs. We see it only growing!
Thank you so much Lauren. I think that’s a pretty good note to conclude our interview on. I sure have learned a lot and I really want to thank both you and your departmental colleagues for helping with the article. This will be a great read for our audience and no doubt very relevant information on the truly impressive array of aviation softgoods that Tapis continues to offer its customers.
Hope to see you at this year’s NBAA/BACE in Orlando!
Learn more about Tapis Corp by visiting: tapiscorp.com
