SABIC grabs aviation innovation award

Thermoplastic material supplier SABIC Innovative Plastics has won an innovation award for suppliers in the aerospace and defense industry.

The company’s lightweight, rigid Ultem polyetherimide (PEI) foam, used as the structural core in multi-layer systems for aviation interior components, won the Composites category in Aviation Week’s first annual Suppliers’ Innovation Challenge competition.

The foam is made of Ultem resin, said to be 10 to 20 times lighter than traditional plastic components.

The Suppliers’ Innovation Challenge received submissions from 80 organizations.