Advanced Design from Global Seating Leader Sets New Benchmarks for Comfort,
Styling, Functionality
DETROIT, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Engineers and designers at Johnson
Controls (NYSE: JCI), a leading global supplier of vehicle interiors and
batteries, have created a vision of the future evolution in automotive
seating. The Genus Concept Seat -- a prototype that reflects this vision and
offers leading-edge features and technologies -- is on display this week at
Detroit's Cobo Center. It's among the dozens of innovations highlighted in the
Johnson Controls product and technology exhibit (room D2-15) at the 2005 North
American International Auto Show.
(LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/JCILOGO)
"We have gathered industry and consumer input, and this seat reflects our
findings," said Bill Fluharty, vice president of industrial design and new
product strategy for Johnson Controls. "The Genus Concept Seat challenges our
customers and ourselves, and shows that tomorrow's seat systems from Johnson
Controls can establish a whole new set of benchmarks for value, innovation,
comfort and brand differentiation."
According to Fluharty, the Genus Concept Seat offers significant benefits
for both automakers and vehicle-buyers. It features a bold, innovative design;
a thin, lightweight structure; a cantilevered base; a sleek appearance; and
active comfort features. Its design enhances cabin space and reduces overall
system weight. In addition, the prototype features advanced new materials that
have comfort and environmental advantages.
In planning the development of Genus, Johnson Controls' designers and
engineers studied today's most advanced seating styles in the automotive,
aerospace, and office- and home-furniture industries. They examined recent
concept seats created by automobile manufacturers. Additionally, team members
factored in market needs -- in terms of features, materials and safety -- and
reviewed top suppliers offering the best-available technologies. Also
considered were findings from the company's ongoing consumer research studies
on seating products, features and materials.
"The Genus Concept Seat pushes the limits and possibilities of seat design
to deliver a fully optimized system that is highly innovative and clearly
desirable," said Fluharty. "It offers better integration, improved cabin space
and advances in active comfort. The extraordinary design provides automakers
with opportunities for enhanced brand differentiation and high value -- all of
which will enhance the motoring experience."
On the styling front, Genus features a thin overall profile and an
exposed, ultra-light, composite structure. More occupant room and storage
space are made available, thanks to the concept's thinner seatback and open
foot well. A cantilevered structure enables the seat to be raised, suspended
on its base unit, and integrated into the vehicle's floor pan. In addition,
the concept has a sub-floor, seat-adjuster system.
Genus provides exceptional functionality and performance. It features
active seating surfaces that conform automatically to a person's body shape,
breathable materials and under-seat courtesy lighting. The concept's mesh
fabric can play a key role in reducing load and cycle demands on a vehicle's
air conditioning system. The Genus Concept Seat also is designed for
outstanding ease-of-assembly and ease-of-disassembly, which are increasingly
important requirements for automakers.
To keep occupants comfortable, Genus features Johnson Controls'
Vibratech (VT) foam technology on all contact surfaces, an active comfort
design featuring Live Back(TM) technology, as well as an anthropometric pivot.
Breathable suspension materials are included in both the seat and cushion
bolster surfaces of Genus. The anthropometric pivot optimizes comfort by
replicating the natural pivot point of the human body. Genus also sets new
standards for passenger safety, active head restraint, adjustable thigh
support and anti-submarine design.
Johnson Controls gained access to the Live Back technology as a result of
its relationship with Steelcase, Inc., an office furniture manufacturer that
developed Live Back technology for its popular Leap(R) high-performance office
chair. In both office-furniture and vehicle-seating applications, the
technology is unmatched in its ability to automatically conform to an
individual's body shape and seating position.
According to Fluharty, the Johnson Controls team that created the Genus
Concept Seat sought to integrate into the concept a wide range of advanced
features and technologies. But they also attempted to create a vision that was
economically feasible, and based on materials and approaches that are
available and viable for current-day design, engineering and production.
Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is the largest
supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-
residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services
including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls
(NYSE: JCI), founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
SOURCE Johnson Controls
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com
http://www2.naias.com/main.asp?sectionID=273&visitorType=1
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/JCILOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html
CONTACT:
Debra Lacey of Johnson Controls,
+1-734-254-5735
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of the Genus Concept Seat from Johnson
Controls can be obtained by calling Heidi Parent at (734)
254-6220. For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and
additional company information, visit the company's site on the
World Wide Web at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com . Leap and Live
Back are trademarks of Steelcase Development Corporation
|
