55
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
OCTOBER 2013
EQUIPMENT
Deep seated
development
Heating and
cooling are
among the new
additions to the
seat offering
from KAB
S
eats with a heater function
and ventilation system
are among the advances
from KAB Seating, part of the US-
based Commercial Vehicle Group.
The company said that
operators would feel the benefit
of KAB HV seats which are
designed to combat extremes of
temperature. It said the heater
system warmed up the joints
to prevent muscle ache in cold
weather, while the air cooling
system worked to overcome
the unpleasant effects of
overheating such as sweating
and skin irritation.
The air cooling system has
been developed in co-operation
with a Japanese technology
company, and features a dual fan
and a venting membrane that
circulates the air and directs it to
where it is needed.
KAB has a range of seats with
air and mechanical suspension
which it said were suitable for
a wide variety of construction
machines. For the 600 series – its
large-size, low-frequency, heavy-
duty air and mechanical series
– it has the 600 C, a four-point
harness version. The 600 B is a
three-point seat belt version,
and the 600 P is a pod seat
version to carry machine joystick
controls. KAB said the 600 Series
was a long stroke suspension
design specifically for high load
applications, both in terms of
supported operator mass and
application profile intensity. Its
wide format is said to ensure
good lateral stability and low
free play
The 800 series of mid-size, air
and mechanical suspension seats
have the longest suspension
stroke in the KAB Seating range,
and comes with the K4 high back
seat upper, and the K1 mid back.
EXTREME CONDITIONS
The 500 series is engineered for
extreme conditions with double
damper and four-point seatbelt
options. Pods can be fitted to
the suspension completely
integrating the seat into the
customer’s vehicle.
The Compact Series is used in
applications where headroom is
limited. Available as a suspension
module or with integrated
upper, it is typically used in
compact construction machinery
among other machines. Air and
mechanical seats are available.
KAB said its new Sentinel seat
built on the developments made
in the compact seat range to
bring a wider variety of upper
options to the KAB compact
equipment product portfolio.
Designed to carry over the
flexibility of its larger format
products, the Sentinel improves
customer choice in this sector,
it said.
It said that the added support
and structural capability of the
Sentinel seat actively reduced
risk of injury when compared to
the industry standard seat.
As well as the heating and
cooling technology, it has
KAB Kool – the application of
a special fabric coating that
actively draws heat away from
the body surface if the subject
begins to overheat. It also
returns any stored heat back
to the subject if the surface
temperature subsequently drops.
KAB said the net effect was to
manage the surface temperature
of the seat more effectively,
giving a more comfortable
environment for the operator.
SAFETY
Among other developments,
there is the KSS inflatabelt. This
is an alternative approach to pre-
tensioning as a method to retain
the occupant into the seat in
the event of a crash or roll over
event.
It uses a high volume cold gas
inflator that inflates an airbag
folded into the sash section
of the three-point belt to a
diameter of 125mm, pinning
the occupant to the seat and
preventing excessive movement
from the intended seated
position. Developed for the
automotive industry, it is already
in use on some US vehicles.
ce
The KAB Air 65/K4B is suitable
for many types of construction
vehicle
Testing KAB seats at its factory in
Northampton, UK
