German Automobile Manufacturer’s Partially 3D Printed Car Seats

Here at 3D Rapid Print, one of the fastest growing 3D Printing companies in the Thames Valley, we like to keep abreast of the latest innovations in 3D printing.

On March 17th 2020, car manufacturer Dr.-Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Porsche for short) of Stuttgart, Germany unveiled what it referred to as “the concept study “3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat,”” a bucket car seat whose central section is partially 3D printed. (The term bucket seat can be defined as “A single, usually low seat with a contoured back, typically used in some automobiles.”) Porsche proclaimed that the seat would deliver what they referred to as “lower weight, improved comfort and passive climate control.” The so-called “climate control” would be done via making the seat’s outer skin with a specific perforation pattern and with a special material Porsche calls Racetex. (In addition to the obvious inherent subjectivity of what constitutes “comfort”, Porsche failed to make clear what “lower weight” and “improved comfort” were being measured relative to. The term climate control can be defined as “A device which controls the temperature and relative humidity in cars, buildings, etc, by way of a heating and/or air conditioning system.”)

The seat will be available as a driver’s seat for Porsche’s 911 and 718 car ranges from May 2020, albeit initially limited to 40 prototype seats for use on race tracks in Europe in combination with a 6-point seat belt. Customer feedback will be used to help develop a street-legal versn of the seat, which will be available “ex works” in different colours and 3 different firmness levels from mid-2021. (The term ex works can be defined as “A transaction in which the seller’s only responsibility is to make the ordered goods available to the buyer at the seller’s premises.”) In addition, Porsche intend to develop 3D printed seats adapted to the customer’s specific body contour if there is enough interest.

Porsche have yet to list a price for their partially 3D printed customizable car seats, although it is almost certain that they will not be cheap at all, as customization rarely is. Notably, car website autoblog argued that buyers of used cars with Porsche’s customised seats risked having to go to the expense of getting new customized seats fitted to properly drive the car.

3D printing is an amazing tool. It can grow your small business or start a mini revolution in an industry. Explore what it can do for you when you contact us today.

Disclaimer: Featured image of “The Street railway journal (1903) (14757142951)” (as it is known on Wikimedia Commons) was taken from Flickr’s The Commons and has no known copyright restrictions. (On Flickr it is known as “Image from page 1492 of “The Street railway journal” (1884).”)