Jamco Corporation announced a new, hands-free lavatory lock knob and door handle, developed in collaboration with All Nippon Airways (ANA), a Skytrax certified 5 Star Airline in Japan. The door is designed for passengers that do not wish to use their fingers or hands to touch the lavatory door. The Jamco and ANA solution allows them to use their forearm or elbow to open the door and return to their seats with their hands remaining clean. The hands-free lavatory lock knob and door handle are low-cost items that will not burden airline operational budgets. It can be installed overnight to the existing lavatories without major modification, Jamco says. ANA is the development partner for the hands-free products, expected to be launched soon as the first operator, which furthers the company’s commitment to ensure health and safety of passengers with hygienic environments in airports, lounges and onboard aircraft.
In the wake of COVID-19, touchless, hygienic cabin interiors support passengers’ need for safety during travel. Keeping hands clean by frequently washing with soap and water helps prevent infection. The new hands-free lavatory door system can assure passengers of keeping their hands cleaner after washing, thus helping stop the spread of illness when exiting the lavatory.
Many aircraft interior suppliers have proposed a variety of solutions that address travel safety during the COVID-19 crisis; however, as known of today, Jamco’s hands-free lavatory door system is the only product worldwide to roll out a demonstration with an airline, the company says.
This demonstration was done as part of development with ANA. The hands-free lavatory door was rolled out for testing at Tokyo Haneda Airport in August.
Jamco has the unique position of being the lavatory and galley supplier for a variety of aircraft, including the sole original equipment lavatory and galley supplier for the 787 aircraft. Jamco welcomes all airlines to take on the opportunity to implement hands-free lavatory door technology.