Company has 56 years of expertise in seating systems
By N. Balasubramanian
CVG is a leading supplier of fully integrated system solutions for the heavy-duty truck market, the construction, military, bus and agriculture and specialty transportation markets. It has a wide range of products in its portfolio including static and suspension seat systems, electronic wire harness assemblies, controls and switches, cab structures and components, interior trim systems (including instrument panels, door panels, headliners, cabinetry and floor systems), mirrors and wiper systems specifically designed for applications in commercial and industrial vehicles. Headquartered in New Albany, Ohio USA, the company has manufacturing facilities in England, USA, Mexico, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Australia, and China.
CVG’s construction seats are manufactured under the KAB Seating brand. In India, the company has a joint venture with Hema Engineering Industries Ltd. for production of seats and seating components for the local commercial and industrial vehicle markets. Apart from meeting the demands of leading OEMs, CVG is also working on potential OEM projects for the truck segment.
Foreseeing strong and promising opportunities for growth in the Indian market, the company is keen on forging strong partnerships with established local companies.
Mr. David Hale, Sales & Marketing Director, KAB Seating Ltd., says: “India will be a huge market for us and it is obvious that there is a strong need for better and good quality seats in the OEM segment.
A lot of our OEM projects are aimed at cost-effective solutions, offering both the driver and passenger seats as a complete package.
The most important thing in India is achieving cost targets and at the same time providing quality seats that will fare well under Indian conditions. We are looking to strike a balance between these two.”
Since 2001, CVG has presence in the aftermarket segment in India through Eastern Equipment Enterprises, a company based out of Kolkata, which is the official distributor for the aftermarket sales and service of KAB seats. “In the aftermarket, it is mainly the drivers who own the trucks who are looking to upgrade the standard of seats”, he added.
At the IAA
At the recently-held IAA show at Hannover, CVG exhibited its latest driver seat GSX 3000 for trucks and buses in the European and Australasian markets. GSX 3000 is an automatic air suspension seat whose style and impressive levels of comfort appeal to both OEMs and aftermarket. Designed by CVG’s global engineering teams located in the USA, UK and China, the product will be supplied via its facilities in Asia, Australia and Europe to provide local support, configuration and supply. It has recently been supplied to leading Chinese heavy-truck manufacturer Foton Motors.
In addition to its excellent vibration absorption capability and impressive seat-height adjustment, the product also comes with a wide array of features such as variable damping, twin air lumbars, rapid dump valve, heaters, seat cushion length and tilt adjustment. It is available in a range of trim including fabric, PVC and deluxe leather finishes. An untrimmed version will be available for the Bus and Coach market to fit moquettes or upholstery needs on a local basis. Paired with the GSX 3000 is a static co-driver seat version called the GSX 3100.
CVG also showcased a family of windscreen wiper systems suitable for European bus applications. CVG has engineered its wiper systems with heavy duty linkages for optimized fit for each bus application, as well as 120 Nm torque motors with sealed housings and electrical connections. Each system is customized for the unique requirements of each application.
Key aspects of the GSX 3000:
- Air-suspended driver seat with integrated 3-point seat belt
- Suspension system – total stroke of 190 mm (7.5 inches)
- Seat height adjustment of 120 mm (4.7 inches)
- Dump feature for ease of vehicle exit
- Memory function to reset to driver’s chosen height preference
- Supports driver weight of 150 kg (331 lbs)
“The key thing is to find customers in India, and also look for a company that already has a lot of good customers, with whom we can partner.” – Mr. David Hale