Cobalt Aerospace
Cobalt Aerospace is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of certified aircraft cabin interior hardware, including LED mood lighting, wireless charging, photoluminescent floor path marking, and in-seat power systems, serving commercial airlines, aerospace OEMs, and completion centres globally as a subsidiary of IFPL Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersHingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cobalt Aerospace does
Cobalt Aerospace is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of certified aircraft cabin interior products, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Hethel, Norfolk, with a US subsidiary in Miami Lakes, Florida. Its core product portfolio centers on Cobalt Spectrum, a drop-in LED mood lighting system featuring patent-pending Virtual Light Modes, Age Correction Technology, and Cobalt Global Reprogramming; Cobalt Unplugged, claimed as the world's first wireless charging solution for aircraft cabins (Qi-compatible, up to 5W); GLS-7, a photoluminescent floor path marking system requiring no electrical power; and an In-Seat Power System (ISPS) launched in 2022. The company also sells subcontract manufacturing, DOA/POA certification, and freighter conversion support services under UK CAA Part 21J and Part 21G approvals (UK.21J.0713, UK.21G.2669), EASA DOA, and FAA STC for GLS-7 on the B737 family.
The business model combines certified hardware sales (retrofittable lighting, wireless charging, safety systems, and in-seat power) with project-based certification and manufacturing services. Customers include commercial airlines (Finnair, Aer Lingus, Brussels Airlines, BermudAir, Wamos Air, Electra Airways), aerospace OEMs (Boeing, Airbus via catalogue), and completion centres (GDC Technics, AIM Altitude). Products are sold through enterprise field sales supported by trade show presence at Aircraft Interiors Expo, MRO Americas, and APEX EXPO, with bespoke Colour Clinic design sessions and certification support as core buyer engagement mechanisms. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Since April 2021 the company has operated as a subsidiary of IFPL Group, which acquired Cobalt Aerospace Group Limited to combine cabin interior innovations with IFPL's IFEC and power portfolio. The company holds a Queen's Award for Enterprise (2021) and FSB International Business of the Year (2020), employs between 11 and 50 people, and does not disclose revenue.
Cobalt Aerospace firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cobalt Aerospace
- Legal name
- Cobalt Aerospace Group Limited
- Website
- https://cobaltaerospace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cobalt Aerospace is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of certified aircraft cabin interior hardware, including LED mood lighting, wireless charging, photoluminescent floor path marking, and in-seat power systems, serving commercial airlines, aerospace OEMs, and completion centres globally as a subsidiary of IFPL Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Cobalt Aerospace is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cobalt Aerospace business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Aircraft Interior Products: Sale of LED mood lighting systems (Cobalt Spectrum), wireless charging units (Cobalt Unplugged), and photoluminescent floor path marking systems (GLS-7) to airlines and aircraft operators
- Certification and Design Services: DOA certification support, conformity and airworthiness release services under Part 21 Design and Production Organisation approvals
- Subcontract Manufacturing: Manufacturing support for airlines, cabin integrators, VIP completion centres and OEMs worldwide, including assembly, inspection, and EASA Form 1 release certification
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cobalt Aerospace product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cobalt Aerospace designs, manufactures, and certifies aircraft cabin interior products for commercial airlines, business jets, and VIP aircraft. Its core hardware lines include drop-in LED mood lighting systems (Cobalt Spectrum), wireless charging units (Cobalt Unplugged), photoluminescent emergency floor path marking (GLS-7), and an In-Seat Power System (ISPS). The company also provides DOA/POA certification, conformity release, freighter conversion support, and subcontract aerospace manufacturing services under UK CAA, EASA, and FAA approvals.
Product overview
Cobalt Aerospace is a team of engineers and production experts designing and manufacturing products for aircraft cabin interiors. The product portfolio is organized around two core hardware product lines (Cobalt Spectrum LED mood lighting and Cobalt Unplugged wireless charging) supplemented by the GLS-7 floor path marking system and In-Seat Power System. The company also offers a comprehensive suite of aviation certification and manufacturing services including DOA (Design Organisation Approval), POA (Production Organisation Approval), freighter conversion support, and subcontract manufacturing. All products are designed and manufactured in-house with certification support under UK CAA and EASA approvals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cobalt Spectrum: Award-winning drop-in LED mood lighting system for commercial, business and VIP aircraft cabins with Virtual Light Modes, Age Correction Technology, and Cobalt Global Reprogramming features
- Cobalt Unplugged
- GLS-7
- In-Seat Power System (ISPS)
Products and services
- Cobalt Spectrum LED Mood Lighting Drop-in LED mood lighting system providing RGBW colour lighting with patent-pending Virtual Light Modes, Age Correction Technology, and Cobalt Global Reprogramming. Designed for commercial, business, and VIP aircraft cabins with no aircraft wiring modifications required.
- Cobalt Unplugged Wireless Charging World's first Qi-compatible wireless charger for aircraft cabins, providing up to 5 watts of power and designed to integrate invisibly into cabin surfaces such as arm rests, bar tops, and tray tables.
- GLS-7 Photoluminescent Floor Path Marking System Emergency floor path marking system using non-toxic, non-radioactive photoluminescent polymer that requires no electrical power, with waterproof and bullet-proof polycarbonate housing. Claims over 70% cost savings versus alternatives.
- In-Seat Power System (ISPS) Complete retrofit in-seat power solution including USB outlets (from IFPL), power supplies, cabling, and wiring harnesses, with rapid on-wing cartridge replacement design.
- DOA Certification Services Design Organisation Approval (Part 21J) certification support services covering cabin interiors, avionics, and electrical systems for fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft, from UK CAA and EASA approved organisation.
- POA Conformity and Release Services Production Organisation Approval (Part 21 Subpart G) services providing conformity support and Form 1 release certification for parts and appliances, with wide scope covering multiple manufacturing technologies.
- Freighter Conversion Support Passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion support including EASA Form 1 conformity services, parts supply (cargo bay lights, overhead wiring), and airworthiness certification support.
- Subcontract Manufacturing Services Aerospace parts manufacturing including assembly, inspection, kitting, and acceptance testing for cabin lighting, monuments, structures, power supplies, IFE, CMS, seating, galleys, lavatories, and oxygen systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- MTTF exceeds 750,000 hours for Cobalt Spectrum lighting units
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cobalt Aerospace
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cobalt Aerospace technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Cobalt Aerospace partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- European Regional Airline Association (ERAA)minorCobalt Aerospace became a member of ERAA as part of IFPL Group. The association represents over 55 airlines and 130 other companies including airports, manufacturers, and suppliers, providing networking and advocacy opportunities in European aviation.
- IFPL GroupcoreCobalt Aerospace Group Limited was acquired by IFPL Group Limited in April 2021. This acquisition combined Cobalt's innovations with IFPL's expertise and scale, offering customers a comprehensive portfolio of products for enhancing in-flight experience including lighting, power, and IFEC solutions. Cobalt Aerospace operates as part of the IFPL Group.
- GVH Aerospace (now Nova Systems)coreManufacturing partnership for AeroStretcher Mk IV modular medical stretcher system. Cobalt Aerospace manufactures the stretcher system designed by GVH Aerospace for Covid-19 medical transfers and emergency medical services. The partnership involves rapid transformation of aircraft from passenger to medical configuration.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cobalt Aerospace competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- STG Aerospace: UK-based specialist in aircraft cabin lighting and photoluminescent floor path marking systems. Direct competitor to Cobalt's GLS-7 and Cobalt Spectrum product lines, serving the same retrofit and line-fit airline customers with comparable STC-backed solutions.
- Diehl Aviation: Major Tier-1 supplier of aircraft cabin interiors including cabin lighting, monuments, and lavatories. Competes head-to-head with Cobalt Spectrum in OEM and retrofit mood lighting, with a much broader portfolio but heavier organisational footprint.
- Safran Cabin: Division of Safran focused on aircraft cabin interiors, including lighting, oxygen, and water/waste systems. Competes with Cobalt across retrofit and OEM cabin interior programmes with substantially greater scale and an integrated portfolio.
- Astronics Corporation: US-listed aerospace electronics supplier offering cabin lighting, in-seat power, and connectivity products. Directly comparable to Cobalt's Cobalt Spectrum and In-Seat Power System (ISPS), serving the same commercial airline customer base.
- Lufthansa Technik: Leading MRO and cabin completion specialist offering VIP completions, retrofit programmes, and component services including lighting upgrades. Directly competes with Cobalt for completion centre and retrofit business, particularly in VIP and head-of-state segments.
- Sitec Aerospace (part of Diehl): Cabin lighting and cabin management systems specialist within Diehl Aviation. Direct competitor to Cobalt Spectrum in commercial mood lighting and integrated cabin management solutions for OEMs and airlines.
- Fokker Techniek: Dutch-based aerospace MRO and cabin completion provider offering passenger-to-freighter conversions, refurbishments, and cabin modifications. Comparable to Cobalt's freighter conversion support and subcontract manufacturing services for airlines and lessors.
Broad incumbents
- Collins Aerospace (RTX): Large diversified aerospace systems supplier with a significant cabin interiors business (lighting, IFE, seating, oxygen). Overlaps with Cobalt's lighting and in-seat power offerings but as one of many product lines within a global prime contractor portfolio.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Global aerospace prime supplying avionics, lighting, and cabin systems across commercial and business aviation. Touches Cobalt's space through cabin management and lighting adjacencies but as one of many large product families rather than a focused cabin interiors specialist.
Regional players
- Beadlight: UK-based premium cabin lighting specialist focused on business jets and VIP aircraft. Comparable to Cobalt's business/VIP lighting segment but operating primarily in the European business aviation segment rather than the commercial airlines space Cobalt targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Cobalt Aerospace social profiles
Digital presenceCobalt Aerospace compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Cobalt Aerospace financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cobalt Aerospace leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Cobalt Aerospace subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cobalt Aerospace funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cobalt Aerospace 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 Cobalt Aerospace
What does Cobalt Aerospace do?
Cobalt Aerospace designs, manufactures, and certifies aircraft cabin interior products for commercial airlines, business jets, and VIP aircraft. Its core hardware lines include drop-in LED mood lighting systems (Cobalt Spectrum), wireless charging units (Cobalt Unplugged), photoluminescent emergency floor path marking (GLS-7), and an In-Seat Power System (ISPS). The company also provides DOA/POA certification, conformity release, freighter conversion support, and subcontract aerospace manufacturing services under UK CAA, EASA, and FAA approvals.
Is Cobalt Aerospace a public or private company?
Cobalt Aerospace is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cobalt Aerospace founded?
Cobalt Aerospace was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cobalt Aerospace based?
Cobalt Aerospace is headquartered in Hingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cobalt Aerospace make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Aircraft Interior Products are the primary driver. The others are certification and Design Services and subcontract Manufacturing.
Who are Cobalt Aerospace's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are STG Aerospace, Diehl Aviation, Safran Cabin, Astronics Corporation, Lufthansa Technik, Sitec Aerospace (part of Diehl) and Fokker Techniek. Broad incumbents are Collins Aerospace (RTX) and Honeywell Aerospace. Beadlight is listed as a regional player.
Does Cobalt Aerospace have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cobalt Aerospace.