New American Seating tool lets users design custom bus interiors with a few keyboard clicks
Tool demos at 2008 APTA Expo, launches online later this fall
American Seating Company demos their interior configurator, a new, free and interactive tool in which users can specify colors and actual fabrics for seating components, and, with a few mouse clicks, see how these choices will look in a photo-realistic city bus interior. APTA Expo attendees can “go configure” at American Seating’s Booth 918. The tool is planned to officially launch via the American Seating Web site later this fall.
“Users can easily design a custom interior in a virtual environment and get a ‘snapshot view’ before a vehicle is even built or product purchased,” said Gary Thompson, transportation market manager, American Seating.
Built in Flash, the interior of the bus transforms onscreen in seconds with each choice. Users can print designs and selections. Interior Configurator currently features American Seating’s InSight® product line with plans to add additional lines. American Seating has collaborated with leading fabric suppliers to include digital swatches in the tool.
Users can specify the colors and/or fabrics of such components as:
- Seats
- Bus flooring and walls
- Stanchion poles
- Barriers
“The possible color and fabric combinations are endless,” Thompson said. “We first demonstrated it at BusCon in September where we received great feedback from those who tried it. Anyone can use it - it’s that easy.” (The enclosed fact sheet describes how the tool works.)
American Seating created the tool to help its customers more quickly and effectively meet the growing demand for not only more public transportation but also vehicles that reflect a heightened cosmopolitan image.
“The interior configurator can facilitate collaboration, be used to present design concepts and streamline decision-making among a variety of stakeholders involved in the bus design process” Thompson said.
Potential users of the tool include transit authority managers, engineers, procurement and specification specialists, maintenance personnel, marketing and sales teams, design consultants and OEMs.
“The goal is to make our end customers’ seating-product decisions as easy, effective and efficient as possible – and, ultimately, to help them meet their riders’ needs,” Thompson said.
“Public transportation in the U.S. is becoming more important every day. American Seating’s interior configurator tool can help users design more inviting vehicle interiors with a few simple clicks.”