Muirhead adds certification muscle through acquisition

Muirhead adds certification muscle through acquisition

Cabin interiors are increasingly being won through vertical integration strategies. Muirhead’s parent Scottish Leather Group has acquired Aerotech Systems, bringing UK CAA Part 21G production approval into the group as it broadens its aviation seating offer.


Muirhead is broadening its aviation interiors proposition after parent company Scottish Leather Group acquired Aerotech Systems Limited, bringing UK CAA Part 21G production approval into the group and tightening its hold on the certification side of cabin component supply.

For aircraft interiors suppliers, that is a meaningful addition. Programmes are often slowed less by design ambition than by the friction between material suppliers, component manufacturers, certification holders, and final assembly. By bringing a Part 21G-approved production organisation into the business, Muirhead gains more control over how certified components are produced and released, which should reduce handovers and shorten the route from development to delivery.

The move lands as Muirhead continues to widen its aviation offer beyond leather trim. The company already describes itself as a supplier to more than 160 airlines across more than 60 countries, and it has been building out an integrated seating proposition that combines low-carbon leather, seat-cover production, and BioPRO Foam. That material uses protein content recovered from Muirhead’s own manufacturing process and has been presented as a lighter, naturally fire-resistant alternative to conventional seat foams that depend on more problematic additives.

Stephen Ritchie, Sales Director Aviation at Muirhead, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Aerotech Systems Limited by our parent company, Scottish Leather Group. This is a pivotal milestone for the business as we continue to push the boundaries of aviation interiors. By bringing Part 21G approval alongside our product offerings, we can certify and deliver compliant aircraft interior components directly to our customers, providing assurance, flexibility, and a shorter route to market.”

That position is likely to appeal to airlines and OEMs trying to reduce complexity in certified seating programmes. Cabin interiors may still be shaped by comfort, branding, and weight, but delivery increasingly depends on whether suppliers can combine materials expertise, engineering, and approval pathways inside one controlled system.

The acquisition suggests Scottish Leather Group sees that convergence as an opportunity worth owning rather than outsourcing.


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