Jamco, ANA partner to test hands-free lavatory door

Jamco Corp. has developed a hands-free lavatory lock knob and door handle in collaboration with All Nippon Airways (ANA), a Japanese Skytrax certified 5 Star Airline. For passengers that don’t wish to use their fingers or hands to touch the lavatory door, Jamco and ANA’s solution allows them to use their forearm or elbow to open the door and return to their seats with clean hands. The hands-free lavatory lock knob and door handle are low-cost items that airlines can install to existing lavatories without major modification.

ANA is the development partner for the hands-free products and is expected to be the first operator, which furthers the ANA Care Promise, 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 hands-free lavatory door system can assure passengers to exit the lavatory keeping their hands cleaner after washing, thus helping stop the spread of illness.

This demonstration was done as part of development with ANA. The hands-free lavatory door, rolled out for testing at Tokyo Haneda Airport in August, was well-received by most passengers.

Jamco is the lavatory and galley supplier for a variety of aircraft, including the sole original equipment lavatory and galley supplier for the Boeing 787 aircraft.