Congratulations to STG Aerospace Responses for winning Innovation & Technology Business of the Year at this year’s Torfaen & Monmouthshire Business Awards. Hear what the team had to say:
Why did you enter the Torfaen & Monmouthshire Business Awards?
The main reason for entering the awards was to increase our profile locally and as an opportunity to celebrate our fantastic team who live and work in the region.
What did winning mean for you or your business?
Winning the Innovation and Technology Company of the Year award was a tremendous achievement for us and has had a very positive impact on the team, boosting morale after a challenging few years post pandemic, which has been great to see. It has raised STG’s profile locally and solidified our reputation as a leading manufacturer within the aerospace industry. It has also helped us to shine a light on our innovation capabilities which enhances our credibility among customers and partners.
Next time someone from the community boards a flight, they might take a moment to appreciate the emergency floor path marking, knowing it was likely made right here in Cwmbran!
What did you think of the awards ceremony?
It was a lovely ceremony, and the team had a brilliant evening. It was a great opportunity to mix with businesses on our doorstep, something we rarely get the chance to do. We took representatives from across the business, and they all enjoyed the event.
How did you find the interview process for the awards?
It was a thorough process, and a great opportunity to showcase what we do to a wider local audience. We are a niche company with very specific expertise. We work with well-known manufacturers such as Boeing, Embraer and Leonardo Helicopters behind the scenes. Explaining what we do and the importance of our products to aircraft safety and passenger experience, made us really reflect on our work and appreciate the passion and commitment our team has to developing the business and our next innovations.
What’s been a challenge for you or your business during the last year and how did you overcome it?
Finding a sustainable resin for our new saf-Tglo® eco E1™ was the most challenging part of creating this new product. Our photoluminescent material was previously held in a solvent based resin, which introduces VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the atmosphere. This is detrimental to the environment and can create an unpleasant odour during the manufacturing process. We wanted to move away from solvent-based resins and investigate water-based options. This was a real challenge, as these resins are more commonly used for fabric printing, as they require a porous surface to bond with. It required many, many, trials to find a suitable alternative. Pure time, effort and determination, meant we eventually found the perfect recipe, using a water-based resin and plant based materials, which meet the same standards as our previous solvent-based equivalent.
What’s been a highlight for you or your business over the last year and why?
The annual Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg is one of our biggest events of the year. It’s where our customers, competitors and the whole interiors industry meet. So, a big highlight for us was at this year’s event in May, to launch our saf-Tglo® eco E1™ product – the first sustainable floor path marking product for the aerospace sector. It delivers sustainability improvements across the product lifecycle. The eco E1™ floor path marking solution not only ensures passenger safety and cabin aesthetics, but also addresses the urgent need for sustainable alternatives, compared to what is already on the market. This new approach for eco E1™ also led to two new patents for STG. We have received fantastic feedback from customers and the wider industry.
How did you hear about this year’s business awards?
We were contacted about the awards and immediately felt they were a good fit for us. We were also delighted with the opportunity to reach and interact with more local businesses.
What are your goals for 2025?
Creating saf-Tglo® eco E1™ was a journey that required a lot of trial and error. We ran extensive tests on a range of materials to find the perfect balance of sustainability and durability, and after several months we found the best combination. We plan to incorporate our learnings from our first eco product into our other products and look forward to continuing to innovate sustainably moving forward.
What’s the best thing about running a business in Torfaen & Monmouthshire?
We are lucky to have a pool of great people with relevant skills for businesses like ours and we have excellent transport links. It’s also wonderful to work in a friendly community with like-minded businesses.
