Zodiac Seats UK
Zodiac Seats UK (formerly known as Contour Aerospace, and previously, L.A. Rumbold) is a United Kingdom-based airline seat manufacturer.
The modern day Contour was formed by the merger of two rival companies. L.A. Rumbold, founded in 1933 by Louis Arthur Rumbold in Acton, West London, and Contour Seats of Farnborough founded by Les Horrocks. L.A. Rumbold supplied various aircraft components. As the industry and diversity of UK-based manufacturers consolidated, the company began to specialise in the supply of OEM catering and kitchen equipment.[1] In 1960, the company expanded into airline seat manufacture, supplying British Airways and British Caledonian with their first products. By 1970 they had outgrown their premises, and opened a new facility in Camberley, Surrey, which is today the firm's headquarters.[1]
Contour Seats started out as a car seat manufacturer. In the 1970s most of their output was rally car seating with the vast majority of works rally teams installing their product. Contour also added aircraft seating to its range in the late '70s and after winning a major contract with BOAC and orders for The Queen's Flight they ceased automotive seat production.
In 1996 the Rumbold family sold the business to Britax, who renamed the business Britax International. This enabled the company to develop its R&D facility, producing:[1]
- The first lie-flat seat for British Airways
- 1998: the first swivel seat for American Airlines
In 1997 after the death of Les Horrocks, Contour Seats was also bought by Britax.
During 1999 Britax undertook a major overhaul of the old Rumbold business. Manufacture of catering and lavatory equipment were transferred to Germany and planning began for the merger of Rumbold and Contour. The manufacture of composite furnishings continued at Camberley.
In December 2000, the new seating business launched at a new facility in Cwmbran, South Wales under the banner Britax Aircraft Seating. They also invested in a new short-run facility at the Camberley HQ. This enabled the development of the fore-aft seat for British Airways business class in the same year, and in 2004 the development of the premium mini-suite for both Emirates and Air France.[1]
However, there was a price to pay for such a massive shake up. Quality and delivery both suffered at Cwmbran. With the brand now failing, in 2002 a relaunch was decided upon. The Contour name had long been a synonym for quality and the business was now rebranded as Contour Premium Aircraft Seating.
In 2004, the company was purchased through a management buyout, and added to a company in the United States. The composites business at Camberley changed its name to Heath Tecna and became part of the Premium Aircraft Interiors Group (PAIG) along with Contour and Sell (Germany)
In late 2011, the company was subject of an agreed buyout from its main rival, Zodiac Aerospace of France.[2] The company was subsequently renamed Zodiac Seats UK.
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