Tapis
Tapis Corporation is a privately-held, women-owned US specialty manufacturer of high-performance flame-retardant fabrics and custom textile solutions for commercial aircraft, business jet, and spacecraft cabin interiors, with proprietary material technologies, FAA-validated testing, and global distribution via exclusive partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersArmonk, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tapis does
Tapis Corporation, founded in 1977 by Al Caputo and headquartered in Armonk, New York, is a privately-held, women-owned specialty manufacturer of high-performance textile fabrics for aircraft interiors. The company operates a 38,000-square-foot processing and testing complex in Dallas, Texas (BAKS subsidiary), and distributes globally through regional sales managers across the Americas, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and General Aviation segments. Its product portfolio centers on five fabric brands — Ultrafabrics (polyurethane high-performance), Ultrasuede (Toray-manufactured microfiber, exclusively distributed), TapiSuede (recycled polyester), Grospoint (wool), and Carpet — supplemented by Woven fabrics and Custom Products tailored to airline-specific cabin programs.
Tapis's underlying technology rests on proprietary materials innovations developed over four decades: AN61 heat-release fabric (used by 50+ carriers for FAR 25.853 compliance), Takumi seating technology, breathable ventilation systems, low heat-releasing FR resins, and custom manufacturing capabilities including laser-etching and multi-color resin patterning. The company holds AS9100 and ISO 9001 certifications and operates an FAA-validated in-house flammability test lab, providing a vertically integrated capability that combines proprietary chemistry, certified processing, and regulatory-grade testing under one roof.
The business model is primarily B2B enterprise sales of certified fabrics and custom textile solutions to commercial airlines, business jet manufacturers (Embraer, Dassault Falcon, Teague, Collins Aerospace), and space customers (Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, NASA). Revenue is generated through quote-based pricing on one-time fabric sales and custom development projects, supplemented by roll-to-roll lamination services, FAA-validated flammability testing services, and ancillary cleaning kit sales via The Leather Institute. Go-to-market is predominantly direct field sales supported by industry events (AIX Hamburg, Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit) and a digital fabric-finder catalog covering 552 products.
Tapis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tapis
- Legal name
- Tapis Corporation
- Website
- https://tapiscorp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Tapis Corporation is a privately-held, women-owned US specialty manufacturer of high-performance flame-retardant fabrics and custom textile solutions for commercial aircraft, business jet, and spacecraft cabin interiors, with proprietary material technologies, FAA-validated testing, and global distribution via exclusive partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tapis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aircraft Interior Fabrics
- NAICS
- Textile Mills (313), Broadwoven Fabric Mills (31321)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720), Textile Mill Products (2200), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Cotton (2211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin) (IMABANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)
Keywords
Where Tapis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Armonk
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tapis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fabric Products: Sale of high-performance fabrics including Ultrafabrics, Ultrasuede, TapiSuede, Grospoint, Carpet, and Woven collections for aircraft interiors
- Lamination Services: State-of-the-art roll-to-roll lamination facility in Texas offering material lamination with foam and scrim to customer specifications
- FAA Validated Testing Services: Flammability testing services including OSU Heat Release, Smoke Density, and various burn tests for aircraft interior materials
- Custom Product Development: Customized fabric solutions for airlines including custom colors, grains, finishes, and technical specifications
- Cleaning Kits: Cleaning kits for Ultraleather, Ultrasuede, and TapiSuede products through partnership with The Leather Institute
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tapis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tapis Corporation manufactures and distributes high-performance textile fabrics engineered for aircraft interiors, including polyurethane-based Ultrafabrics, micro-fiber Ultrasuede, recycled-polyester TapiSuede, 100% wool Grospoint, carpet, and woven products. The company complements its fabric catalog with FAA-validated flammability testing, roll-to-roll lamination, and custom fabric development for commercial airlines, business jets, and spacecraft cabins.
Product overview
Tapis Corporation is a provider of high-performance fabrics and materials for aircraft interiors, operating since 1977. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio centered around five core fabric brands: Ultrafabrics® (polyurethane high-performance fabrics), Ultrasuede® (microfiber luxury fabric), TapiSuede™ (recycled polyester suede alternative), the Grospoint Collection (wool fabrics), and Carpet products. The portfolio extends to Woven fabrics for luxury interiors and Custom Products for airline-specific requirements. Supporting services include Lamination (roll-to-roll material bonding), Testing (FAA-validated flammability testing), and Cleaning Kits. The products serve commercial seating, commercial vertical surfaces, private jets, and space applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TapiSuede™: Pliable, inherently stain resistant, washable, and spot cleanable fabric made of 100% high-purity recycled polyester.
- Grospoint Collection
Products and services
- Ultrafabrics Premium portfolio of polyurethane high-performance fabrics ideally suited for aircraft settings that require the look and feel of leather with greater durability and practicality. PVC-free and designed for longevity; sub-collections include Ultraleather 9 Series, Breathable Technology, Modern Textures, Classic Grains, and Ultratech Collection.
- Ultrasuede Supple, non-woven luxury fabric made of fine micro fibers that is pliable, stain resistant, machine washable, and spot cleanable. Manufactured by Toray and distributed exclusively by Tapis for aircraft interiors. Sub-collections include Mélange, Twill, and BHC.
- TapiSuede Collection Pliable, inherently stain resistant, washable fabric made of 100% high-purity recycled polyester via high-tech manufacturing techniques. Eco-friendly product available in Flannel, Stretch, and BHC-SS variants.
- Grospoint Collection 100% wool face fabrics ensuring durability while offering high-quality textile for aircraft interiors. Available in Geneve and Brussels variants.
- Carpet Aircraft carpet products including luxury collections (Elegance, Elevate, Essence, Evolution) and utility carpets (Sahara, Tretford). Tapis's original product offering.
- Woven Performance-driven woven fabrics combining centuries of textile craftsmanship with avant-garde expertise for luxury aircraft interiors, designed to coordinate with other Tapis products.
- Custom Products Customized fabric solutions for award-winning Business and First Class cabins (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Swiss Air, Qantas, Air New Zealand), using custom laser-etching and unique resin capabilities.
- Cleaning Kits Cleaning kits for Ultraleather, Ultrasuede, and TapiSuede products offered in partnership with The Leather Institute, including cleaning foam, pad, ink stick, and micro-fiber towel.
- Lamination Services State-of-the-art roll-to-roll lamination service at the Dallas (BAKS) facility, fusing up to five layers of materials under constant tension and pressure to create wrinkle-free bonded build-ups to customer specifications.
- FAA-Validated Flammability Testing Services FAA-validated flammability test lab certified to AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards, offering OSU Heat Release, Smoke Density, Vertical/Horizontal Burn, and 45/60-degree Burn testing for aircraft interior materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- AN61 heat release fabric used by 50+ carriers worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tapis
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tapis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Tapis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UltrafabricscoreTapis partners with Ultrafabrics to distribute their premium portfolio of polyurethane high-performance fabrics for aircraft interiors. This includes exclusive distribution rights and joint product development such as the Atago seat fabric solution launched at AIX Hamburg in 2022 in collaboration with Franklin.
- FranklincoreFranklin partnered with Ultrafabrics and Tapis for the development of Atago, a groundbreaking seat fabric solution launched at Aircraft Interiors Expo Hamburg in July 2022.
- The Leather InstituteminorThrough partnership with The Leather Institute, Tapis offers Cleaning Kits for Ultraleather, Ultrasuede and TapiSuede products, including cleaning foam, pad, ink stick, and micro-fiber towel.
- ToraycoreToray manufactures Ultrasuede, a fine micro-fiber fabric that Tapis distributes exclusively for aircraft interiors. Toray's exclusive technology produces Ultrasuede with properties including pliability, stain resistance, machine washability, and exceptional durability.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tapis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lantal Textiles: Swiss-based global manufacturer of technical textiles, leathers, and carpets for aircraft interiors (seating, cabin, crew). Closest direct competitor to Tapis, serving similar commercial airlines and OEMs with comparable flame-retardant certified products.
- Botany Weaving: Ireland-based weaver of wool and worsted moquette fabrics used in mass-transit and aircraft seating. Direct peer in aircraft seat fabric manufacturing with comparable safety-certified wool textile products.
- Aeristo: U.S.-based supplier of aviation interior products including leather, fabric, and custom materials for business jets and commercial aircraft. Direct competitor serving the same VIP/business aviation segments as Tapis's Private Jets and custom cabin offerings.
- Walpole Industrial Products (Anstey Wallpaper): UK-based manufacturer of flame-retardant textiles and wallcoverings for transport and aviation interiors. Direct competitor in cabin vertical surfaces and aircraft interior fabrics serving similar airline customers.
- Scott Group Studio: Custom aircraft carpet and rug manufacturer serving private aviation and head-of-state aircraft. Direct peer in the high-end aircraft carpet niche that Tapis's Carpet collection also competes in.
Emerging players
- Ultrafabrics Corp: Manufacturer of polyurethane high-performance fabrics for aviation, automotive, and contract use. Both a strategic partner (Tapis is the exclusive aircraft-interior distributor) and a competitive threat if Ultrafabrics pursues direct aircraft sales globally.
Broad incumbents
- Toray Industries: Global chemical/materials conglomerate and manufacturer of Ultrasuede microfiber fabric. Currently Tapis's exclusive aircraft-interior supply partner for Ultrasuede; broad incumbent with potential to address aircraft market directly via other channels.
- Haartz Corporation: Manufacturer of coated technical textiles for automotive, marine, and aerospace interiors. Adjacent incumbent with overlapping flame-retardant and performance fabric technology used in transportation interior applications.
Regional players
- Moro Fabric (Schauenburg Industries): Italian manufacturer of flame-retardant textiles for transport, automotive, and aviation interiors. Regional European peer with similar fire-retardant certification focus and overlap with Tapis's commercial seating/vertical surface segments.
Others
- Haworth Tompkins / Sekers Fabrics: UK-based contract textile supplier with a Flame Retardant & Performance collection serving hospitality, marine, and aviation interiors. Indirect adjacent competitor with overlapping technical fabric capabilities for cabin applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Customer concentration
Tapis social profiles
Digital presenceTapis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Tapis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tapis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Tapis subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Tapis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tapis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tapis
What does Tapis do?
Tapis Corporation manufactures and distributes high-performance textile fabrics engineered for aircraft interiors, including polyurethane-based Ultrafabrics, micro-fiber Ultrasuede, recycled-polyester TapiSuede, 100% wool Grospoint, carpet, and woven products. The company complements its fabric catalog with FAA-validated flammability testing, roll-to-roll lamination, and custom fabric development for commercial airlines, business jets, and spacecraft cabins.
Is Tapis a public or private company?
Tapis is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Tapis founded?
Tapis was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Tapis based?
Tapis is headquartered in Armonk, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tapis make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Fabric Products are the primary driver. The others are lamination Services, FAA Validated Testing Services, custom Product Development and cleaning Kits.
Who are Tapis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lantal Textiles, Botany Weaving, Aeristo, Walpole Industrial Products (Anstey Wallpaper) and Scott Group Studio. Ultrafabrics Corp is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Toray Industries and Haartz Corporation. Moro Fabric (Schauenburg Industries) is listed as a regional player. Haworth Tompkins / Sekers Fabrics is listed as an others.
Does Tapis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tapis.
What industry is Tapis in?
Tapis's product category is Aircraft Interior Fabrics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABANAI, Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin), with a secondary code of IMAOABAH, Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates). Its NAICS code is 313 and its SIC code is 3720.