Redefining Commuter & Shuttle Bus Seating :
Kiel Americas Sets a Standard
As part of Kiel Group , Kiel Americas has been providing seating solutions for the North American mass transportation industry since 2009 . Kiel Americas employs approximately 150 employees and has full R & D and manufacturing capabilities at its facility located in Bellwood , Illinois .
The Kiel Group was founded by Franz Kiel in the Dusseldorf area of Germany , just after the conclusion of World War II . After its relocation to Nördlingen , today ’ s Kiel Group consists of 13 companies in 10 countries .
In North America , Kiel Americas has a new focus on seats for the cutaway bus market – including shuttles for hotels , airports , car rentals , employee travel and even prison buses , as well as commuter , transit , paratransit / on-demand transit and motorcoach applications . Kiel Americas differentiates its products within these growing markets in two segments : luxury travel and in applications where seatbelt requirements play a prime role .
Research and Development As these markets develop , Kiel Americas has focused its efforts on weight reduction ( partly due to the increased presence of electric vehicles , for which weight is a primary concern ), ergonomic design and comfort , safety , and sustainability . “ In recent years , it has also become important to mix these elements with sterilization , or the ability to clean the seats ,” said Nicholas Gwynne , general manager of Kiel Americas . “ Every operation is different , and our customers have many different requirements for their seating .” Gwynne said that ergonomics are very important in Kiel ’ s seating for the cutaway market . “ There ' s a relationship between ergonomics and time seated ,” he said . “ If you sit in a vehicle for one hour , you need to have a different design than a seat that you sit in for only 15 or 20 minutes . In other words , the design for a short ride is less complex than the design for a long ride .” The development of new seating systems at Kiel is characterized by extensive specialist knowledge and many years of experience , as well as by fresh ideas and , whenever possible , the aspiration to satisfy customers ’ requirements .
12 | BUSRIDE . COM | APRIL / MAY 2024