Zodiac Aerospace
| File:Zodiac Aerospace logo.svg Logo used from 2008 until acquisition | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Founder | Maurice Mallet |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Fate | Acquired by Safran |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Olivier Zarrouati (CEO from 2007) |
| Products | Aircraft systems and components, safety systems, cabin interiors, seating, galleys, interconnect systems, oxygen supply systems, entertainment systems |
Number of employees | Not specified |
| Parent | Safran (from 2018) |
Zodiac Aerospace was a French aerospace corporation operating from 1896 until 2018, specializing in the supply of aircraft systems and components. In October 2018, it was acquired by the French aerospace and defense firm Safran.
Early aeronautical origins (1896–1933)
The company was established in 1896 under the name "Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray" by Maurice Mallet, initially manufacturing hydrogen balloons for recreational and sporting purposes. By 1909, it adopted the name "Zodiac" and broadened its activities to include airplanes and airships, notably supporting the Aérostation Maritime (Naval Balloon Command) during wartime. By the 1930s, Zodiac had produced a total of 63 airships.
Expansion into marine products (1934–1972)
In 1934, Zodiac pioneered the creation of inflatable boat prototypes, marking the beginning of both civilian and military inflatable boat industries. Following World War II, the rise in leisure activities and France's growing enthusiasm for recreational boating during the 1960s prompted Zodiac to shift its focus toward inflatable boats for civilian use, gradually moving away from airship production. In 1966, Zodiac completed a contract with CNES to supply meteorological balloons as part of the EOLE project. Toward the late 1960s, the Group restructured to enhance its international market reach, establishing its first subsidiary in Spain in 1964 and another in North America by 1970.
Global expansion phase (1973–1989)
Entering the 1970s, Zodiac encountered financial challenges but managed a turnaround by 1977 under new leadership with CEO Jean-Louis Gerondeau, aided by investors and support from the French Institute for Industrial Development. In 1983, Zodiac became the inaugural company to be listed on the Paris Stock Exchange's 'Second Market'. The Group pursued global growth through acquisitions targeting specialized markets. Notable purchases included Aérazur Constructions Aéronautiques (1978), marking a return to aerospace; EFA (parachute manufacturer) in 1979, which established an aerospace division; Bombard-L'Angevinière and Saylor (inflatable boats and PVC structures) in 1981; Superflexit (flexible tanks) in 1983; Parachutes de France (sport parachutes); Air Cruisers (evacuation slides); Metzeler (inflatable boats); B. Kern; Europol during 1987–88; and Pioneer, a leading U.S. producer of deceleration and engine braking parachute systems.
Aerospace business growth (1990–2006)
Throughout the 1990s, Zodiac enhanced its aerospace portfolio by acquiring companies such as Monogram Systems (specializing in onboard water and waste management) in 1998 and Inter technique Group in 1999, which expanded aerospace activities and led to the formation of an Aircraft Systems division focused on onboard solutions. Between 2002 and 2006, further acquisitions included ESCO (emergency arresting systems), ICORE (cable protection and interconnect solutions), Avox Systems (oxygen supply systems), C&D Aerospace (cabin interiors), Enertec, and In-Snec (telemetry and data recording), broadening its aerospace product range.
Division restructuring and aerospace concentration (2007–2018)
In September 2007, Zodiac sold off its Marine division to a holding entity predominantly owned by Carlyle Group, creating Zodiac Marine and Pool. Olivier Zarrouati succeeded Jean-Louis Gerondeau as CEO in November that year. At the start of 2008, the company rebranded as Zodiac Aerospace with an updated logo. Later that year, Zodiac expanded its cabin interiors segment through acquisitions of Dutch firms Driessen (galley manufacturing), Adder (cabin partitions), and TIA (electrical galley equipment for business aircraft). This acquisition momentum continued with Canadian Cantwell Cullen & Co (cabling and interconnect systems) and German Sell GmbH (wide-body aircraft galleys) joining in 2010.
In 2010, Safran initiated a takeover bid for Zodiac Aerospace which was declined by Zodiac’s Supervisory Board. After extended negotiations and regulatory review, Safran abandoned its acquisition attempt.
After 2011, Zodiac continued acquiring companies such as Heath Tecna (commercial aircraft cabin interiors), Contour Aerospace (premium seating), IMS (in-flight entertainment systems), NAT (engineering and certification services), TriaGnoSys (onboard connectivity for IFE), PPP (oxygen systems), Greenpoint Technologies (VIP/VVIP wide-body aircraft configurations), and Enviro Systems (environment control).
By September 2012, Zodiac Aerospace reorganized into five main divisions: Zodiac Aero Safety, Aircraft Systems, Cabin & Structures, Galleys & Equipment, Seats; alongside an after-sales service unit named Zodiac Aerospace Services.
Explosion
On 14 July 2015, a blast took place within a prepreg treater at Zodiac Aerospace's Engineered Materials Facility located in Newport, Washington, United States. The incident resulted in injuries to five people, and authorities recommended maintaining a distance of no less than 600 meters from the affected area.
Acquisition by Safran
On 19 January 2017, Safran declared a cash bid of €29.47 per share to purchase Zodiac Aerospace, valuing the transaction close to €10 billion ($10.5 billion). In May 2017, Safran lowered its offer by $1 billion following a disappointing earnings outlook from Zodiac. The merger was officially completed on 19 October 2018, with Zodiac Aerospace becoming part of Safran.
Zodiac Aerospace brand
Established in 1896 under the name "Mallet, Mélandri et de Pitray," the company experienced multiple renamings before settling on "Zodiac" in 1965. The Zodiac name became widely recognized for inflatable boats developed after World War II and made famous by explorers such as Jacques Cousteau. When the Marine division was divested in 2007, the Zodiac brand was transferred along with it. As a result, the company rebranded as "Zodiac Aerospace," signaling its renewed focus on aerospace markets and adopting a new corporate logo.
Organization
Zodiac Aerospace delivers equipment for commercial, regional, business jets, helicopters, and space vehicles. The Group is structured into five primary business segments supported by a service division.
Zodiac Aerosafety
This division focuses on safety systems for both onboard and ground applications, offering protection and rescue solutions through five main units primarily operating in Europe and the United States:
- Zodiac Arresting Systems manufactures emergency arresting solutions such as EMASMAX to enhance safety on civil airport runways.
- Zodiac Evacuation Systems provides rescue equipment including inflatable lifejackets, evacuation slides, and flotation devices for helicopters.
- Zodiac Interconnect specializes in cable protection and interconnection technologies.
- Zodiac Elastomer designs flexible fuel tanks and fuel distribution components for aircraft.
- Zodiac Parachute & Protection supplies parachutes for both civilian and military applications.
Zodiac Aircraft Systems
Dedicated to critical in-flight functionalities, this segment comprises seven divisions mainly situated in Europe (France, Germany) and the US:
- Zodiac Cabin & Cockpit Systems offers cockpit parts along with lighting and oxygen supply systems.
- Zodiac Controls develops sensor technologies and system management solutions.
- Zodiac Electrical Systems is responsible for aircraft electrical power management.
- Zodiac Entertainment & Seat Technologies includes Zodiac In-flight Innovations (providing onboard entertainment and connectivity) and Zodiac Actuation Systems (manufacturing electric seat actuators).
- Zodiac Fluid Management delivers fluid circulation systems for fuel and water management.
- Zodiac Water & Waste produces wastewater treatment and garbage disposal systems.
- Zodiac Data Systems designs telemetry and data gathering systems marketed under brands such as In-Snec, Enertec, and HEIM.
Zodiac Galleys and Equipment
Composed of three divisions located across Europe (France, Germany, Netherlands), the US, and Thailand:
- Zodiac Galleys equips kitchens and crew rest areas for single-aisle and wide-body aircraft.
- Zodiac Galley Inserts supplies galley appliances including ovens, coffee machines, waste compactors, chillers, and microwaves.
- Zodiac Rotable Equipment provides onboard trolleys for food service and duty-free sales as well as LD3 containers used for baggage and cargo handling.
Zodiac Cabin & Structures
The Zodiac Cabin & Structures division is responsible for designing and producing cabin interiors for both new aircraft and those undergoing refurbishment, with a primary focus on the U.S. market. This segment is composed of several specialized units:
- Zodiac OEM Cabin Interiors, which handles the design, development, and certification of interiors for commercial and regional aircraft.
- Zodiac Airline Cabin Interiors, offering cabin refurbishment services tailored for airline customers.
- Zodiac Northwest Aerospace Technologies, dedicated to engineering and certifying cabin retrofit initiatives.
- Zodiac Advanced Composites and Engineered Materials, providing composite materials essential for cabin outfitting.
- Zodiac Business Aircraft Cabin Interiors, concentrating on interior solutions for business aircraft.
Zodiac Seats
Zodiac Seats is engaged in the design, manufacturing, and sale of passenger seating across all travel classes—first, business, premium economy, and economy—for commercial and regional airplanes. It also produces specialized seats for pilots and crew members. The segment is divided into four key branches:
- Zodiac Seats France (formerly Sicma Aerospace), located in Issoudun, France, focusing on economy and business class seating.
- Zodiac Seats U.S. (previously Weber Aircraft LLC), based in Gainesville, Texas, specializing in economy class seats; its subsidiary Zodiac Seats California caters to regional aircraft markets.
- Zodiac Seats UK (formerly Contour Aerospace), operating from Cwmbran and Camberley in the UK, dedicated to first and business class seat production.
- Zodiac Seats Shells in Santa Maria, California, which manufactures composite seat shells intended for business class seating.
Zodiac Aerospace Services
Zodiac Aerospace Services manages post-sale support operations with facilities distributed throughout Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia.
Governance and management
Zodiac Aerospace Group functions as a Limited Company overseen by an Executive Board chaired by Olivier Zarrouati and a Supervisory Board led by Didier Domange. The Executive Committee assists in carrying out management responsibilities.
Markets and strategy
Serving predominantly the civil aerospace sector, Zodiac Aerospace offers products divided into two main categories:
- SFE (Supplier-Furnished Equipment): Components selected by aircraft manufacturers at the start of a program and installed on every aircraft produced.
- BFE (Buyer-Furnished Equipment): Equipment chosen by airlines to equip new aircraft or retrofit existing fleets.
The company pursues growth through both organic development and targeted acquisitions.
Innovation
Zodiac Aerospace actively engages in joint research and innovation initiatives alongside industry collaborators such as:
- CORAC Génome
- Hycarus – Fuel cell technology
- Airbus eFan project
Furthermore, the company fosters innovation through the Jean-Louis Gerondeau Award, which supports undergraduate and PhD students at the Ecole Polytechnique who are developing entrepreneurial projects, thereby encouraging creativity and business innovation.
Key figures
The fiscal year for Zodiac Aerospace spans from September 1 to August 31.
Zodiac Aerospace is publicly traded on the Euronext Paris exchange. As of 29 March 2016, the company's share capital totaled €4,515 million, divided into 289,407,962 shares.
Financial Year 2013 / 2014
- Turnover: €4,175 million
- Operating profit before IFRS 3 adjustments: €549.9 million
- Net profit: €354.4 million
- Dividend per share: €0.32
- Net debt to equity ratio: 0.43
Philanthropic Efforts
At the Group level, Zodiac Aerospace supports the Petits Princes association and sponsors programs that promote scientific research, including the "Wings for Science" initiative launched in 2012. Additionally, its subsidiaries contribute to community health and education projects in their respective regions.
Wings for Science
Beginning in 2012, the Group has partnered with the ORA (Observer Relever Analyser) association by providing equipment that enables light aircraft use in research laboratories. This collaboration aids scientific investigations and motivates young people to engage with science. The aircraft was presented at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget in June 2013.
Community Engagement
Across its global subsidiaries, Zodiac Aerospace actively supports local health and educational programs. In 2013, Zodiac Galley Inserts and Zodiac Oxygen Systems contributed medical equipment to the ORBIS association, outfitting a hospital aboard an aircraft dedicated to delivering eye care and advanced medical treatment to doctors operating in conflict-affected areas.