Peugeot designers and experts in lightweight aircraft construction, Expliseat, have teamed up to design a modular ultralight aircraft seat that can seat between two and four passengers, dubbed Titanium Seat NEO.
The project bought together the skills of ergonomists, upholsterers, saddlers, colour and material designers, modelers and manufacturing specialists to create a seat, while simultaneously exchanging expertise and knowledge in the areas of design and construction for lightweight seats.
In 2013, Expliseat developed the first aircraft seat for the lightest possible classification. Composed of titanium and carbon the seat weighed less than 4 kilograms.
As a result of the partnership between Peugeot Design and Expliseat the design of the Titanium Seat NEO contributes to the wellbeing of passengers, thanks to a number of innovations including; individual spaces instead of a bench seats; lateral lower-back, pelvis and thigh support in order to keep passengers in place without impeding their free movement; foam seating to make long-haul flights more comfortable; larger tray-tables with touch-screen tablet media support and larger storage pouches.
"This project with Expliseat represents an opportunity to bring together the best practices of two industrial worlds. The technical, analytical nature of the aerospace engineers resulted in an ultra-light aircraft seat made of titanium and carbon and, with expert automotive ergonomists and saddlers, designed a product that the two teams couldn't have come up with in isolation," said Cathal Loughnane, head of the Peugeot Design Lab.
"To achieve Titanium Seat NEO we wanted a partner capable of designing a lightweight, comfortable seat with a design that embodies our upmarket and confirms our technology. After a year of exploration, the expertise of the Peugeot Design Lab has convinced us, "said Benjamin Saada, CEO Expliseat.