'Performance' Car Seat Eliminates Steel

Design News - News - 'Performance' Car Seat Eliminates Steel #BASF #Faurecia #in

Plastics and chemical giant BASF and automotive supplier Faurecia have co-developed a car seat backrest that integrates the seat frame and back panel into a single structure. The composite backrest reduces the need for foam, eliminates metal almost entirely, and simplifies -- read shortens -- the trimming process. It also saves weight. The concept Performance Seat, along with a concept 100-percent plastic wheel made of BASF's impact-resistant polyamide Ultramid Structure material, were displayed at the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Paris-based Faurecia already demonstrated the Performance Seat at the LA Auto show in November. Faurecia's high-tech Performance Seat with a body-conforming "compliant shell" is 30 percent thinner than conventional seats and weighs 20 percent less. (Source: Faurecia) Aimed at smaller and midmarket vehicles, the Perfor...

Full article: http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=237504