Luxurious impressions
The new bus seat gives a comfortable and luxurious impression. The thick cushions are upholstered with leather. The folding armrests are mounted in sturdy brackets. The seat has a higher backrest than other comparable seats. In spite of this, the seat is about 5-10 kilos lighter, which is important in reducing the total weight of the bus.
“Advanced high strength steels offer added value in terms of comfort,” Éric Belval believes. “The recoil of high strength steels can be put to use to improve seating comfort. This enables us to use thin steel for the seat structure, which supplements the springing of the seat.” Multina has used two different grades of advanced high strength steels in its design. Reinforcements and parts subjected to the highest stresses are made of hot rolled steel with a minimum yield strength of 700 N/mm2. Larger parts such as the backrests, seat, headrests and seat chassis profiles are made of cold-rolled steel with a minimum strength of 1300 N/mm2. Both materials are among the most advanced high strength steels available on the market.
The designers have also reduced the seat weight by specifying holes in various profiles in order to remove unnecessary material. The work of upholstering the seat also benefits as the backrest frame consists of only one continuous steel profile. Instead of a compression moulded plastic panel, the steel profile at the rear of the backrest is covered with a thin layer of plastic foam and then the same upholstery as the remainder of the seat. This results in a more attractive design, and the new Multina bus seat stands out from its rivals.
Five kilos less
The project has enabled Multina to build up valuable new knowledge that the company is keen to develop further. Éric Belval considers that an additional 5 kilos can be cut from the weight of the seat, which is now only just over 30 kg. The weight can be reduced by modifying the design and reducing the number of welds, but without compromising on safety, cost or comfort.
The future looks bright for Multina. Interest in efficient transport is growing in the company’s markets. Buses and trains are becoming more interesting alternatives to car and air travel. Éric Belval is convinced that demand will continue to grow and that Multina has every opportunity to become a major supplier of bus and train seats, as well as entire interiors.
“Our aim is to supply our customers with entire systems,” he concludes.