ARPROR seating significantly reduces Body-in-White complexity across platforms
 |
A new anti-submarining seat using ARPRO expanded polypropylene is simplifying vehicle construction, improving serviceability and reducing weight. Key to the weight savings - up to 35 percent - is the migration of the anti-submarine ramp from the body-in-white to the rear seat bench construction.
An anti-submarining system, together with the safety belt, is necessary to help retain rear-seat passengers in their seats in the event of harsh braking. ARPRO is strong and resilient enough to enable the ramp to be incorporated into the seating itself, replacing the traditional metal structure and contributing to a simpler vehicle platform. It reduces complexity for OEM's when developing a diverse range of vehicles from a single platform. The first application is the Volvo XC60.
"By varying the size and shape of seat bench's ARPRO component, designers can tailor the H-Point (the relative vertical location of an occupant's hip, relative to the floor of the vehicle)," explains Paul Compton, JSP's executive vice president and chief operating officer (Europe).
Variants such as hatchback, multi-purpose vehicle or off-road vehicle benefit from the elimination of the anti-submarine metal stamping and fixing traditionally used by the car industry. The flat floor also gives users more efficient load spaces with fewer structural obstacles when the seat is folded.
From a manufacturing point of view, assembly is simple and serviceability is enhanced by having a j-clip arrangement for attachment of the seat upholstery to the seat bench.
ARPRO provides a unique combination of material properties, making it ideal for use in this application. JSP is expert at tailoring ARPRO for specific applications, where the expanded polypropylene can help reduce system mass by 25 to 35 percent. Its extremely high strength-to-weight ratio is particularly useful in anti-submarining safety applications due to its ability to return to its original shape following dynamic stresses.
JSP has supplied ARPRO seating solutions to a leading interior systems integrator supplying to the Volvo XC60, a premium and versatile Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). A 20 percent cost saving and a 2.5kg weight saving was achieved, and ARPRO components can be found on over 23,000,000 cars and light trucks per annum.
"This anti-submarining solution is a far-reaching new development set to further increase the amount of ARPRO used in vehicles," concludes Compton.