09:15 Registration & coffee

10:00 Chairman’s welcome and opening address

Dr. Ralf Kümper
Vice President and General Manager
LEAR Corporation GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

10:15 Innovative lightweight solutions for future seat applications using textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites

• Development of a cost-effective manufacturing process for series production
• Integrated sensor networks for intelligent lightweight structures
• Textile thermoplastic compliant mechanism for complex kinematic demands
• Part reduction by large scale structure manufacturing solutions
• Material and load adapted joining technologies

Johann Maaß
Research assistant, Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK)
Technical University of Dresden, Germany

Co-authors:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Prof. E.h. Dr. h.c. Werner Hufenbach
Dr.-Ing. Niels Modler
Dipl.-Ing. Robert Kupfer
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Krahl
Dipl.-Ing. Marco Zichner

10:55OEM Insight: Seat weight reduction through alternative material of PU foam

• Challenge for the new seat
• Focus for an alternative material of PU foam :
  • Technology
  • First results
  • Perspectives

Laurent Bauvineau
Vehicle Interior Project Manager for the Innovation Phase
PSA Peugeot Citroën, France

11:35 Refreshment break and networking

12:05 Flexible and comfortable seating concepts for compact electric vehicles

• Seating trends and needs in the context of EVs
• First-row stadium seating with new cantilever seat design
• Second-row lounge-recline comfort system with cushion angle adjustment
• EV battery packaging with low-profile battery system for increased storage

Dr. Andreas Eppinger
Group Vice President Technology Management
Johnson Controls GmbH, Germany

12:45 Innovations in comfort systems

• Comfort systems with reduced component weight
• Compact lumbar system
• Functional integration as a method for weight reduction
• Compact massage system
• Material substitution in seating upholstery: PET fiber instead of PU foam, a new technology entering the production

Jan Petzel
Manager Ergonomics & Advanced Development,
Lotta Holm Lindstedt
Account Manager, Leggett & Platt Automotive Europe Headquarters GmbH, Germany

13:25 Networking luncheon

14:40OEM Insight: Research project function integrated bionic seat: Following the example of nature

• Learn from biology: The finray principle
• Static finray analysis: Conflict between comfort and crash-loading
• Anti-whiplash integrated
• Potential of the bionic seat backrest-con

Bernhard Rother
Development Engineer Vehicle Technology
BMW AG, Germany

15:20OEM Insight: Seating concept of the new Opel Zafira Tourer – setting the flexibility standards

• Conceptional background
• Challenges
• Technical details
• Learnings

Dipl. Ing. Reiner Schmidt
Manager High Roof Vehicle Seat Systems
Adam Opel AG, Germany

16:00 Refreshment break and networking

16:30OEM Insight: Smart textiles – intelligent seats

• Smart textile technology in real life applications
• State of the art and further developments
• The importance of intelligent components for future car concepts
• Lighter materials to reduce weight

Steve Penton
Group Leader for Core Trim Engineering and Comfort
Jaguar & Land Rover, United Kingdom

17:10 Panel Discussion: Quo vadis transport seating?

• How are weight reduction goals shaping seating design in the next 5 years?
• What are the material trends of the future?
• How can a more holistic approach to a comfort and weight reduction trade off be achieved?
• For which major challenges are OEMs and seat manufacturers especially looking for innovative solutions?

Discuss these and other questions with selected conference speakers.

Chair:

Dr. Ralf Kümper
Vice President and General Manager
LEAR Corporation GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

17:40 Closing remarks of the chairman & end of conference day one