Comprehensive safeguarding of seating systems and components

Occupants perceive the vehicle to more than 80 percent through the seats. An optimally coordinated seating system that reflects its value and is safe, robust and reliable is therefore important. Our specialists have the necessary experience to efficiently and reliably test and ensure the complete system and the individual components with the specific equipment.

The entire seat and the individual seat components are validated in our own seat testing laboratory. This includes among others securing the cover and foam, the seat-integrated systems and the structure. There are also tests to assess the quality of the entire seat. In addition to the topics of durability, reliability and durability, our expert team also looks at all aspects that contribute to a perfect driving experience and driving comfort.

Durability testing and entry/exit simulation

Weight and cost optimization through efficient use of materials require innovative safeguarding and testing of the seating system or component. In order to detect early material fatigue, we also test the structure for durability in the same way as when driving. The damping properties of the seat foam and seat cover (with regard to oscillation, natural vibration, impact) as well as the stress when getting in and out are also examined. The requirements for the seat are carried out in real driving tests or simulated on the test rig. Testing using test subjects also provides the most realistic test conditions possible.

The specific load when getting in and out is measured using seat pressure distribution measuring mats. The robot entry and exit simulation can then be programmed based on the evaluated profiles.

Noise optimization and functional tests

Our expert team uses electrodynamic shakers to check whether and where background noises occur while driving in order to localize and optimize them if necessary. For this purpose, the complete seats are stimulated in all three spatial axes at different frequencies and accelerations (partially overlaid with climate). Attention is also paid to unintentional adjustment of the movable mechanisms.

The reliability, service life, haptics and ergonomics of the mechanical and electrical adjustment devices of a seat are tested under extreme environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity). The measurement results generated are documented and analyzed.

Comfort tests for climate seats and Co.

In the comfort tests, we direct our attention to climate-controlled seats and and additional equipment variants such as massage functions, integrated speakers and passenger-adapted seat geometries. In addition to reliability, we test them for homogeneity and acoustic properties. The air conditioning between seat and passenger can be tested and visualized using a specially developed double-chamber test stand and microclimate measuring mat. The durability of the seat heating is also checked.

Structural testing

For structural testing, we offer an operational strength test in which a defined and controlled load case is introduced into the seat structure. Alternatively, the service life of seats can be tested using the recorded driving signal on the hydropulser / hexapod.