Porsche Introduces Innovative 3D Printing Technology
Motorsport-inspired custom production concept
Porsche revolutionizes the production of sports seats: the company presents an innovative alternative to conventional sports seat upholstery with the conceptual study “3D-printed body-shaped seat”. Here, the center of the seat, in other words the seat cushion and backrest, is partially made by a 3D printer. Customers will be able to choose between three levels of hardness (hard, medium, soft) for a comfortable layer in the future. Thanks to new technology, the sports car manufacturer once again emphasizes its close relationship with motorsport: an individual sports seat follows the principles of fitting a specific seat, usually in professional motorsport.
“The seat is the link between the person and the car and is therefore essential for precision sports performance. This is why special driver seat frames have long been standard in racing cars,” said Michael Steiner, Member of the Porsche Executive Board for Research and Development. “With the help of 3D printed sportswear, we are once again giving consumers the opportunity to experience the technology offered by motorsports.” In addition to an ergonomic fit similar to that used in motorsports, this seat also provides a unique design, lighter weight, increased comfort and passive climate control.
The "3D-shaped seat" is based on Porsche's lightweight sports seat and features a multi-layer construction: an expanded polypropylene (EPP) main support is paired with a breathable comfort layer composed of a polyurethane-based material blend. made using additive manufacturing - in other words, in a 3D printer. The outer shell of the concept seat is made from Racetex and has special perforations for climate control. The window panels provide a view of the exposed color components in the 3D printed grille and give the sports seat an impeccable design.
The 3D Printed Sports Seat will be available at Porsche Tequipment as a driver's seat for the 911 and 718 models from the beginning of May 2020. The range will initially be limited to 40 seat prototypes for use on European racetracks in combination with a six-point seat belt. Customer reviews will be included in the development process. As a next step, from mid-2021, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur factory will have legal 3D sports seats available in three different degrees of hardness and color. In the long run, the technology will also allow the creation of completely individual solutions if enough customers are interested in this. In addition to the expanded gamut of colors, seats adapted to the specific contour of the client's body will be developed and offered.
