British design and engineering company Gordon Murray Design has collaborated with Formaplex on a research project ‘Manufacturability of Advanced Passenger Seats (MAPS)’ with an objective to find significant weight reduction on seating offerings.

The programme is partly funded 12 month study under the Innovate UK framework, which not only will aims to develop light weight automotive seat structures but also economical production methods.

MAPS project plans to deliver a new seat offering that will see significant weight savings over conventional metallic seat structures, along with proven production methods including reduced manufacturing time when compared to current composite seat manufacturing methods. And achieve European homologation standards whilst being affordable for both low and high volume vehicles.

The participation of Gordon Murray Design within the MAPS project will focus on the opportunity to significantly reduce structure weight by utilising advanced composite panels based on recycled carbon fibre, whilst maintaining the high volume, low cost benefits of the original iStream technology. The objective is to develop a seat frame that is 30 percent lighter than the incumbent steel frame.

Professor Gordon Murray, chairman, Gordon Murray Design said: “Gordon Murray Design is pleased to be an active participant in this important UK research initiative, aimed at an important further development of the revolutionary iStream manufacturing technology. The MAPS partnership brings together recognised industry professionals in order to address the exciting challenges associated with the development of new materials and processes necessary to ensure that new innovations can be implemented in a cost-effective and robust manner, appropriate for mass production”.