American Seating introduces next generation of INSIGHT® transit seating

American Seating has introduced the next generation of its award-winning InSight® seats for mass transit: INSIGHT-PRIME™ and INSIGHT-PRIME+™.

The new products are being unveiled at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) annual meeting in San Francisco taking place Oct. 4-5, 2015. They join the suite of American Seating products that has made InSight the No. 1 selling transit seat in the industry, the company says.

The INSIGHT-PRIME and INSIGHT-PRIME+ seats were engineered to be lighter in weight, helping to reduce overall vehicle weights and increase fuel efficiency. The seats also were designed for optimal cleanability and aesthetics.

INSIGHT-PRIME is the primary element of InSight—a new, fundamental solution without fabric inserts, back panels and associated hardware, yielding a weight savings of more than 25% compared to the typical two-pass transverse seat. INSIGHT-PRIME+ adds color inserts for an enhanced aesthetic value while maintaining cleanability, weight and cost advantages. INSIGHT-PRIME and INSIGHT-PRIME+ are available in all of the same configurations as InSight, including transverse, longitudinal, flip-ups, rear cross and back-to-back.

“Transit authorities need new ways to make vehicles weigh less so they can achieve greater fuel efficiency. At the same time, they want a clean, sanitary and modern aesthetic. Plus, they’re looking for cost-effectiveness. With this new generation of InSight, we’re meeting these needs and more,” said Doug Oswald, Director of Marketing for Transportation, American Seating. “All features and options have been maintained with the new design, including the superior comfort and unsurpassed durability that transit operators expect of InSight. Our new solution solves a significant trend in the industry, which is moving away from upholstered seating.”

The INSIGHT-PRIME texture pattern is a unique design, specifically engineered to enhance the user experience while maintaining cleanability. The INSIGHT-PRIME texture pattern also provides a unique two-tone look to the seat without an insert. INSIGHT-PRIME+ offers an insert that allows for two color selections for even greater aesthetic appeal. Both products’ 18-inch-wide seats do not require an added back panel. The 17-inch-wide seat has the same insert shapes as the 18-inch-wide seat while maintaining design continuity throughout the vehicle.

InSight first launched in 2006. The contemporary-styled seating solution’s modular design was the result of extensive industry research. InSight received the prestigious iF (International Forum) award for design in 2010.

InSight seats—and now INSIGHT-PRIME and INSIGHT-PRIME+—deliver the industry’s largest personal sitting area along with advanced technology, comfort, style, safety, durability and lower weight, all of which support efforts to increase ridership.

Chicago’s major transit authorities were the first to purchase InSight. Since then, transit authorities across the U.S. and Canada—including Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Mich., Miami, Minneapolis, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Victoria, British Columbia—have also installed the seats. Canada’s SkyTrain selected InSight for the 2010 Olympics.