American Seating has collaborated with major fabric suppliers in the industry, to offer a wider ranging fabric assortment, as well as an expanded color palette for its InSight product.

American Seating has collaborated with major fabric suppliers in the industry, to offer a wider ranging fabric assortment, as well as an expanded color palette for its InSight product.

Improved flexibility, reduced seat weight and enhanced fabric options are just a handful of the myriad upgrades customers can expect from transit seating manufacturers this season. With new seating regulations for safety and ergonomics, companies are also finding ways to meet the criteria without forgoing style or function. 

AMERICAN SEATING
Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based American Seating has made new improvements to its top-selling seating models, InSight and Metropolitan, available to customers in early 2012.

For the InSight, American Seating is introducing an expanded color palette in addition to a new, wider-ranging fabric assortment, as the company has recently collaborated with major fabric suppliers in the industry.

"We've gotten outstanding feedback from our customers about the comfort, contours and size of the InSight, so we wanted to continue to build on that from a color and visual standpoint," says Gary Thompson, marketing manager for American Seating.

Also available will be an upholstered back panel for the InSight, which features fabric on both the front and back panels of the seat. There is also a high back extension seat cushion option as well.

"The high-back seat with fabric on the front and back makes the InSight look more luxurious and inviting," says Thompson. "It really impacts the customers in two ways. One, it provides increased comfort, and two, it provides truly enhanced styling."

Customers will be able to view these new features on American Seating's Web-based vehicle configuration tool starting in early 2012. With the tool, customers receive a 360-degree view of the seat, giving them the opportunity to visualize an upholstered back panel as well.

As of now, the Web tool is focused on the InSight offering, but American Seating is looking to expand the tool to include other seats in the future, according to Thompson.

American Seating's Metropolitan seat has recently been redesigned to comply with the company's goal to decrease weight in its seats. The upgraded Metropolitan, a fiberglass design, achieved up to a 20% weight reduction, depending on the model type and added features.

"We've really looked at the components that make up the Metropolitan — the frame, shell, seat cushion inserts and modularity — and optimized every single one of those components to reduce overall weight," says Thompson.  
American Seating has also ­developed lightweight solutions for their other products, including stainless steel models, according to ­Thompson.

Gemini, an ultra-lightweight seat based off of 4 One's earlier Aries model, is made from stainless steel and is injection molded.

Gemini, an ultra-lightweight seat based off of 4 One's earlier Aries model, is made from stainless steel and is injection molded.

4ONE LCC
Exton, Pa.-based 4One, a joint venture of USSC and Freedman Seating Co., recently introduced their newest product, the Gemini, at the APTA EXPO in New Orleans.

Gemini is an ultra-lightweight seat based off of 4One's earlier Aries model, but featuring notable improvements.

"We wanted to duplicate the comfort of the Aries in a different seat model - one that is less weight and less costly, but still gives you the same comfort as the Aries," says Rick Klotz, president of 4One.

Like the Aries, the Gemini is made from stainless steel due to the strong industry push toward it for the sanitation benefits it delivers.
"With stainless steel seats, it's easier to keep a bus clean," says Klotz. "You can wipe a stainless steel seat down more easily, and therefore, thwart vandalism."

The Gemini is also injection molded and has many design options. Customers can order the Gemini with stainless steel back panels, and its grab handles come in various colors. The handles can also feature an anti-microbial solution, and the seat is available with or without upholstery.

The Gemini can meet Docket 90a for flame and smoke requirements, which is commonly mandated in the rail industry and a recommended standard for buses.

"We choose to have Docket 90 as an option, because while there are some customers that don't require it, there are customers that do, and we want to make sure we meet all customers' needs," says Klotz.

With the Gemini, 4ONE aims to meet all of the latest seating requirements regarding weight, ease of maintenance and adjustability as well.

"Our goal is to have more aesthetically finished seats, focusing on weight, styling and simplicity," says Klotz. "Our focus is to give customers the best looking seat and best value for the money."

One of Gemini's most exceptional features is its light weight. According to Klotz, the Gemini could save a bus more than 400 pounds in overall weight, which leads to gains in the fuel economy, making the bus more efficient.

The Gemini can also be placed in an extensive amount of seating positions, such as forward-facing, longitudinal facing, forward-flip and longitudinal flips.
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Freedman Seating Co.'s new Go Seat features a slim and modular design, allowing for continuous customization.

Freedman Seating Co.'s new Go Seat features a slim and modular design, allowing for continuous customization.

FREEDMAN SEATING CO.
The newest offerings from Chicago-based Freedman Seating Co. include the Go Seat, the Shield Sport Seat and "Design Your Seat," an online tool allowing customers to configure customized seats using Freedman's various design options.

The Go Seat, available in the first quarter of 2012, is a slim modular seat that can be customized continuously. Its design makes it possible to change or upgrade seats even after installation, as it features Lock-N-Go seat cushions that snap in and out or mechanical seat fasteners.

The Go Seat comes in mid-high and high-back models, and customers can choose from rigid, recliner, foldaway and flip variations. New accessories — such as map pockets, snack trays, cup holders and sanitized antimicrobial grab handles — can be added to the seat at any time as well.

"Our goal is to introduce new products every several years to keep bus interiors looking fresh and contemporary," says Dan Cohen, executive VP, sales and marketing, at Freedman Seating Co. He added that while the Go Seat offers comfort and style, it's also designed to be heavy duty for transit-type applications.

The Go Seat meets all applicable FMVSS standards including 207/210 and offers several three-point seat belt options that also aim at reducing overall vehicle weight.

The Shield Sport Seat is the company's newest driver's seat for the small and medium duty bus market. Designed to comply with FMVSS standards including 202A headrest standards, the seat features new adjustable arm rests, cushier headrests and four-way lumbar support.

It also features an automotive grade four-spring seat Flex-O-Lator for even load support and can be special ordered with a heat and massage unit from Relaxor.

In addition, recently launched "Design your Seat" is an online seat configurator available through Freedman's website. Customers can view any in-stock fabric and test different fabric combinations virtually on three of Freedman's seat models.

"This tool takes the guess work out of the process so clients can get a good visual on what their idea will look like before they commit to the order," says Cohen.

Bus dealers can also mix Freedman's expensive fabrics with lesser-priced cloths, and print a PDF document of their design to send around for review.
"'Design Your Seat' also gives customers the option to take some of the cost out of the seat without sacrificing aesthetics," explains Cohen.

Kustom Seating's newest product, the Veratas, will replace Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's current seat design. (Rendering shown.)

Kustom Seating's newest product, the Veratas, will replace Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's current seat design. (Rendering shown.)

KUSTOM SEATING UNLIMITED INC.
Based in Bellwood, Ill., Kustom Seating Unlimited Inc. (KSU) is expanding its presence in the rail industry by creating new seat designs and collaborating with companies, such as design firm Vergara Studio LLC, (VSL) to enhance their current and future products.

With VSL's assistance, KSU aims to improve interior design for ergonomics, aesthetics and innovation within its entire collection, according to Gene Germaine, director of business development at KSU.

"We're also looking to develop a signature line together with VSL with the intent of being able to have some consistency as it relates to mass transit, in general, and high-speed rail and commuter travel in particular," he says.
KSU's newest seating product, the Veratas, will replace Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) current seat design. Focus groups in the Washington, D.C. area helped KSU and WMATA create a design that better meets the needs of WMATA ridership; the Veratas has a slimmer profile in addition to ergonomically-designed back panels made from stainless steel, which adds durability and reduces maintenance costs.

The seat features a scheme of four different colors, making it airier for interior aesthetics.

The Veratas can be mounted with a three-pin cantilever configuration which has the ability to mount off of the wall. This design also produces added under-seat space for both legroom and luggage. The slimness of the Veratas allows more riders to be on board at one time as well as easier ingress and egress of passengers. Despite the seat's thin profile, it still meets all necessary load requirements, says Germaine.

"We are encouraged by this design because it can be adaptable for different transits," he says. "It can be adapted to meet the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) requirements; BART faces challenges similar to WMATA, and we think our seat addresses those issues."

After much collaboration with Siemens — and winning the Siemens' 2011 Supplier of the Year award — KSU and Siemens are currently developing another new seat for the Twin Cities.

The new seat is a modular unit and effectively an upgraded version of Kustom's Venus model, gaining the nickname "Venus Hybrid." It has similar ergonomic, aesthetic and maintenance benefits as the Venus as well as the Veratas; however, it is attached differently off of the wall. Its design allows for adaptability to different widths - it can be made into a one-, two- or three-passenger seat; mount transverse; or sit along the wall for longitudinal seating.

"This design shows leadership in the rail market, relative to addressing the old standards with progressive alternatives," says Germaine. "Plus, it's lightweight, which is a major factor in both of these seats because it reduces costs of power."

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USSC's Evolution G2A and G2E now feature  injection molding for a cleaner, more stylish look.

USSC's Evolution G2A and G2E now feature injection molding for a cleaner, more stylish look.

USSC LLC
While USSC's Evolution G2A and G2E have been around since the beginning of 2011, they were recently brought back to the drawing board and re-released at APTA EXPO with improved features. The new versions are scheduled for availability starting in early 2012.

"What has changed about the new products is that we've gone to a much better fit and finish," says Rick Klotz, president of USSC.

The plastic used on the new G2A is injection molded, which gives the seats a cleaner and more stylish look, according to Klotz. The Exton, Pa.-based company also focused on cushion assembly, making sure the seats still retain an ease of maintenance.

"One of our big focuses is maintenance," says Klotz. "We want to make sure, from a maintenance standpoint, that our seat is easy to work on when required, so we made some modifications to the cushion to allow that."

The company is also developing an adjustable three-point D loop seat belt for the Evolution G2A that can be altered to different sizes to match the driver's height and width.

"The seat belt will give drivers more adjustability for comfort purposes, which will also lead to better safety," says Klotz. This is the first three-point adjustable belt USSC will release.

Another new safety device for the G2A is a newly designed alarm pad. Unlike most alarm pads available in the current market, USSC's pad will be tactically located between the seat's cover and foam, which will provide better accuracy without forgoing comfort.

Most pads are situated underneath the foam; however, if a lighter driver doesn't press down completely on the foam, then the alarm pad won't function. The new design features a smaller barrier between driver and pad, which counteracts this common problem.

USSC is also offering an upgraded foam package for the G2A and other seats, which features more advanced and resilient polyurethane (PU) foam.

"The reason behind the PU foam upgrade is to give riders even more comfort than you could using a standard PU foam, and with longer life-expectancy, too," says Klotz. Seats with the upgraded foam will be offered in the 2012 market.

The chief modification with USSC's G2E seat model is in its versatility.

Before, the seat could only fit into select vehicles, but now the upgraded seat — renamed G2ELP — features a re-designed interface and more advanced bracket work, which lowers the profile of the seat for compatibility with any transit vehicle model.

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