The market introduction of Kiel North America’s new seating options were a resounding success at last week’s APTA EXPO 2014 in Houston. In addition, Kiel seating solutions were featured in two of the show’s most significant exhibits.

One of the highlights that the show’s more than 15,000 visitors enjoyed was the exhibition of the brand new 45-feet coaches at the Motor Coach Industries booth that the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro Houston) recently added to its fleet.

Each of the 95 new commuter buses features 55 Kiel Avance 2010 seats with lightweight design and the signature Kiel shape and ergonomic styling. As an added show experience, some of the new Metro buses were being used as shuttle buses to the George R. Brown Convention Center, providing visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the utmost comfort and amenities of Kiel seats.

Meanwhile, Bombardier Transportation’s new train car for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit District) was another show highlight as visitors were able to enter the full-scale model car and experience the trendsetting new design and layout for which Kiel North America developed a custom-tailored seating model.

The vinyl covered seats in attractive, modern colors are almost 50% lighter compared to the fabric seats currently in use, contributing to BART’s moniker as the lightest and therefore most efficient train car for its size in the U.S. The U.S.-produced seats will be officially introduced into 10 fully functional pilot cars by early 2015 before the production of the 775-car fleet commences in 2016.

At its own booth, the award-winning manufacturer of bus and train seats and U.S.-subsidiary of the well-established Kiel Group, introduced Comfort Line, its multifunctional and technologically barrier-breaking seat model for high-speed transportation.

Manually or motor-operated adjustable back and seat cushions, as well as foldable armrests are a standard feature and so is the pleasingly contoured head rest providing travelers with a shielded area for utmost comfort and restfulness. A vast number of available extras like flexible LED reading lamps and USB-chargers conclude the state-of-the-art rail seat that sets completely new standards for intercity travel.

Among Kiel’s broad variety of other high-tech, top-quality bus and train seats the company’s redesigned slider model garnered the attention of many visitors and partners. The significantly upgraded version allows quick and easy fitment and can be placed into a secure locking position with one smooth ergonomic movement. The slider is a self-positioning model with a foot-operated final lock and boosts additional safety features such as the easy safety lock, sturdy stainless steel pedestals and provisions for restraint belt fixing.