as in trial installation , before it finally goes into production . “ How a seat either crumbles — or doesn ’ t crumble — in the event of a crash is very important as a measure of safety ,” Gwynne said . “ The seats are designed so that they break away and do not become weapons during a crash .” “ Safety is , of course , standardized by the local government ,” he continued . “ But because we have the experience of working and conducting crash testing in many different countries , we have achieved high quality standards . That is because we incorporate seats from a variety of safety boards around the world . We have the experience in our engineering group to be able to fall back on different ideas .” Kiel utilizes modular , recyclable construction systems , aiming to conserve resources and provide as many environmentally friendly options as possible . “ We ’ re very conscious about using natural products , including natural fabrics , leather , and wood .” Gwynne said . “ Furthermore , the plastics and aluminum that we use are recyclable .” Importantly , a Kiel seat can be renovated after 10 years of use by simply replacing the fabric and foam .
It ’ s Up to You ® Kiel Americas stands behind the slogan “ It ’ s up to you .” Gwynne said that the slogan was created to encourage its customers to interact with the seating design process . “ We really do have the ability to make seats out of a variety of materials ,” he said . “ That means a spectrum which includes more standard materials , all the way to absolute luxury materials . We are ready to work exactly to what our customer wants .” At the end of the day , Gwynne said , it is a question of what does a specific country or a specific customer want . For instance , this can mean a steel structure with steel components , or a composite material base . It is not only the travelers who have specific requirements for seating : Kiel ’ s customers – the manufacturers of passenger railway cars , motorcoaches , transit , paratransit , shuttle , commuter vehicles and buses – expect seats that are increasingly economical , robust , and lightweight . Furthermore , Kiel ’ s customers expect seating that covers all eventualities , from basic to luxury features , depending on the intended purpose . “ We like to say : ‘ What do you want ? It ’ s up to you !’” Gwynne said . “ Whether it ’ s standard materials or luxury materials , or a design that is customized for your specific business – it really is ‘ up to you .’”
14 | BUSRIDE . COM | APRIL / MAY 2024