Mark Jones reflects on his first Aircraft Interiors Expo

Attending the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg is always a highlight on the STG calendar, and this year, Internal Sales Manager, Mark Jones, experienced the event for the first time.

While the lively atmosphere and buzz of the show were memorable, Mark’s visit to AIX proved to also be strategically valuable, both for his own development and for supporting STG’s broader commercial and customer engagement objectives.

One of the standout moments for Mark was simply walking the vast show floor and seeing STG’s products displayed alongside some of the biggest names in aerospace.

“As an aerospace enthusiast, it was very exciting to be shoulder to shoulder with market leaders such as Airbus and Boeing.” Mark said.

That perspective is invaluable for someone in internal sales, a role that is often rooted in behind-the-scenes communication. Seeing first-hand how STG fits into the broader industry landscape helped Mark not only understand the wider industry, but also reaffirm STG’s own position in the market.

For someone who typically engages with customers via email, Mark found particular value in the face-to-face interactions that a global event like AIX makes possible, both for ‘talking business’ and relationship building.

“Being able to demonstrate our products in person and letting people see, feel, and understand the technology of each range is a real game changer” he explained.

A particular highlight was showcasing STG’s The Curve, a universal flexible light that launched at AIX 2022. With live demonstrations led by technical expert Bill Rowell from our parent company, Heads Up Technologies, visitors could see how the product illuminated intricate scenes, such as a mountain silhouette, in vivid detail. It is the kind of experience that no email or PDF could come close to replicating.

Sustainability has been a standout theme over the last few years in response to the industry’s shared goal of achieving net zero by 2050. STG’s commitment to sustainability shone as the team proudly launched its eco everything concept. It followed the success of saf-Tglo® eco E1™, the world’s first sustainable emergency floor path marking system, which launched at AIX 2024. It was a priority to take our learnings from the development of the first innovation and apply it to all four widths of our saf-Tglo® SSUL-X™ range.

Whilst AIX is a natural space for technical, design, and sales leads, Mark’s experience showed just how valuable it is for internal sales managers to be there too.

“It gave me a broader view of the industry, our place within it, and how we are perceived,” he explained. “Now that I’ve experienced it once and know what to expect, I would definitely like to go again.  I’d go with even more intention, plan meetings with my own customers, and get even more from it. It would be great for other members of the team to experience this too..”

Mark’s first AIX was a powerful learning experience, a reminder of the importance of in-person engagement, and a celebration of STG’s place in a dynamic, competitive, and innovative industry.

Keep an eye on our social media channels for a summary of more AIX activity.