08:30 Registration & coffee

10:30 Refreshment break and networking

09:00 – 12:00 Workshop A: Seating comfort made visible

The workshop will show a selection of comfort aspects with the methods of evaluating the specific aspect. Methods of measurement are shown and the results are discussed. The focus is on the comfort systems that allow the adjustment of the contour of a vehicle seat (e.g. the adjustable lumbar support, the adjustable bolster system and massage systems). The second part of the workshop will show the effect of massage systems on the driver. A literature study of the effects of massage and a comparison of different massage methods is presented. The last part of the workshop shows three examples for weight reduction solutions. Demonstrator parts are presented and discussed.

Main aspects of the workshop are:

• How to evaluate seating comfort in vehicle seats? Methods for measuring and evaluating aspects of comfort with application examples
• Improving seating comfort through application of massage systems. Study of massage effects, massage methods in vehicle seat applications, evaluation of massage systems
• Innovative comfort systems to reduce system weight. Examples of weight reduction by optimization of functions, functional integration, minimized component dimensions and material substitution.

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

09:00 – 12:00 Workshop B: Future demands on added value factors in automotive seating

During the workshop the participants should try to define which added value factors in connection with automotive seating are relevant for future markets. Different types of seats will be analysed like basic seat, comfort / ergo seat, spots seat, motor sport seat, light weight seat. If possible and necessary an additional type of seat could be defined which meets the needs and wants of future customers.

Different exercises in small teams and together with the whole group will focus on some of the future relevant themes like:

• ECO factors e.g. efficiency, flexibility, light weight, Eco fun
• Sensuality: increasing interior perception concept for all senses
• Increasing focus from customers and manufacturers on the interior and C&T design
• Space efficient solutions in combination with visible construction / seat adjustment / focus on secondary zones
• Craftsmanship interpretations
• other topics will be defined during the workshop

The result of the workshop should be a rough checklist for future relevant added value factors for different types of seats.

Jörg Friedrich
Managing Director
Car Men GmbH, Germany

12:00 Networking luncheon

14:30 Refreshment break and networking

13:00 – 16:00 Workshop C: Objective measures of seating comfort

The seat is the main contact area between occupant and the car, and therefore seating comfort has a large influence on the occupant’s satisfaction with the car. Much seating comfort research is focused on the subjective responses of the occupants, but the relationship to the underlying biomechanics and mechanical properties of the seat is often misunderstood.

This workshop will look into objective methods of measuring seat mechanical properties that relate back to the biomechanics that elicit the subjective responses.

Manfred Wagner
Group Research
Daimler AG, Germany

13:00 – 16:00 Workshop D: Weight reduction through innovative layout and design

The lumbar support systems that we find in vehicle seats today have been designed to meet comfort and durability requirements. But since weight reduction gains importance for all automotive components, also comfort components are requested to contribute to this trend. The workshop will deal with the optimization of components, new system arrangements and material substitution and will thereby demonstrate how to decrease the weight of complex comfort systems. Furthermore we will discuss weight reduction to be achieved by material substitution for seating upholstery. The challenge for the future is to decrease the weight of material. One approach is to simply find alternatives for PU-foam. Several approaches will be discussed, analysing all advantages and disadvantages.

Univ.-Prof. i. R. Dr. rer.nat.habil. Heiner Bubb
Lehrstuhl für Ergonomie
Technische Universität München