Nördlingen, 20/9/2022 – The Kiel Group is a leading manufacturer of seating systems for commercial vehicles and public transport in local, regional and long-distance travel by bus or train. The Group is in the process of restructuring and it is adopting various strategic offensives to position itself optimally for the future.
The Kiel Group
The restructuring will enable the company to pursue its aim of strengthening its leading market position on the international scene.
“With a total of 13 locations around the globe, we are the only seating provider worldwide that can offer our customers the same high quality of products and service,” says Stephan Stieglauer, Commercial Director of the Kiel Group. “We have created the perfect conditions for this and have driven our global expansion forward and developed an international network at an early stage. Internally, the new structure gives us the opportunity to standardise and simplify processes across the company and to make better use of synergies across markets.”
New corporate identity and campaign “Inspired by the Next Generation”
In line with the restructuring, Kiel Seating Solutions will be launching a new corporate identity and a new campaign: “Inspired by the Next Generation”. At the heart of this concept is the strategy to enable the next generation to participate in the development of innovative projects and to consider the wishes and requirements of this next generation in all the company’s activities. In addition, the significantly younger, fresher and more dynamic look also reflects the new corporate image: As a globally active supplier of seats and seating systems for public transport, Kiel is an important player in this extremely dynamic sector and aims to play a significant role in shaping it: with new products that not only meet the greatly changed needs of passengers, but far exceed them. “Our creed is: We provide solutions today to the mobility issues of tomorrow”: says Stephan Stieglauer.
Smart Seating 2035+: Joint venture with Reutlingen University
Kiel is currently putting the idea of “Inspired by the Next Generation” into practice in student projects with Reutlingen University: Students on the Transportation Interior Design course are currently working in several groups to develop smart seating solutions for public transport in the near future, supervised by professors Andrea Lipp-Allrutz and Michael Goretzky. The challenge is to design a multifunctional interior of an autonomous “people mover” that offers users real added value in its full range of characteristics and equipment features. When considering the projects, students must include current trends and technical development, future social scenarios and the lifestyle and needs of the target groups in 2035 and beyond and, from these, ascertain the requirements for a city shuttle of the future. A particular challenge is to also consider the processes in the vehicle and to ensure that these correspond to new user habits. The students can give free rein to their imagination: This ranges from the fulfilment of ergonomic needs via innovative functionalities or materials, the consideration of different body postures – driving while standing, sitting or lying down – to the adaptability to the needs of different user groups. The joint venture is a real win-win situation for all the participants: The young designers have the opportunity to work under real conditions, in a practical way with the greatest possible freedom. They also receive feedback from a leader in the industry. In addition, Kiel gains valuable innovations and fresh ideas.
Development of new sectors
The Kiel Group is committed to transferring its extensive expertise in the areas of seating and interior solutions for buses and trains to new sectors in which the company was not previously active. The first project has already been launched. And more will follow.
