Jeff Bonner R&D (JBRND) is displaying its pleated window shade for the Bombardier Challenger 650 and Gulfstream G550 this week at NBAA-BACE. Answering a challenge from several U.S. operators to manufacture a more robust alternative to their airplanes’ original shade systems, JBRND created both manual and electric versions of the pleated shade for operators and modification centers.
The San Antonio, Texas-based company has made pleated window shades for Boeing and Airbus airliners since 2013. “JBRND uses an innovative solution for driving the shades that were actually brought to our attention by an NBAA press release in 2012,” said company v-p of sales Ed Harris.
“After visiting the supplier’s NBAA booth and seeing this mechanism, we knew instantly that JBRND could design a better mouse trap. So we connected it up to our proprietary motor controller knowing the industry could use a pleated shade window that did not rely on strings and cables for operation.”
JBRND said it can manufacture 99 percent of any VIP part under one roof, without relying on outside vendors. It offers machining, sheet metal fabrication, composite fabrication, tooling mil-spec finishes, heat treating, and prototype fabrication services.