AIME 2010: Aerolux offer Espresso's in the sky

The AL-EX15-200E series espresso maker is a self-contained unit designed for in-flight preparation of espresso coffee, suitable for first and business class galleys and corporate jet environments.

“ It can also provide hot water for tea and steam for cappuccino preparation if required, says Ken Metcalfe, MD, who set up the company in 1988.

“Construction of the unit is from stainless steel and aluminium alloy, mounted on an integral chassis, which will mount on most standard coffee maker rails, and interface with water and electrical connection.

“The unit uses Nespresso patented capsule system, which ensures excellent coffee quality and accurate portion control. These are inserted by means of a capsule holder and locked in position during the brewing cycle.”

Other products include an Aero-Skillet. A modular self-contained, worktop mounted hotplate unit designed for cooking eggs. An Ice Cream Freezer, a self-contained unit made from a lightweight aluminium alloy designed for the storage of pre-frozen food onboard commercial, commuter and corporate aircraft, and a Rice Cooker, a self-contained worktop mounted unit designed for the preparation of rice or congee, and can also heat liquids such as soup.

Customers include Cathay Pacific, British Airways, BMI, Finnair, Lufthansa and China Airways. Middle East customers include Emirates, Etihad, Wataniya, Qatar, Kuwait and MEA.

Metcalfe adds: “We also specialise in customising private jets, which is a niche market for us. This includes medical refrigeration to hold medicines, as well as other innovative products. We work closely with Swiss Ambulance and are in talks with Abu Dhabi based Al Jaber Aviation about our medical refrigeration.”

Other private operator customers include Bahrain Royal Flight, Harrods Aviation, and Netjets.

“The Middle East is an important region for us. We have been attending the Dubai Air Show for ten years now. This is our first AIME show and we’re very much looking forward to meeting people we missed at the Dubai Air Show,” Metcalfe said.