Shanghai. Germany-based automotive industry supplier Keiper GmbH & Co. KG is presenting an innovative portfolio of seat structures and mechanisms at Auto Shanghai 2009 from 20 to 28 April.

Innovation is a tradition at Keiper. Since the company was founded in 1920, it has continued to introduce pioneering concepts designed to make vehicle seats better, safer and more comfortable. Company founder Fritz Keiper invented the first adjustable seat recliner mechanism, patented it and launched on the market in 1938. Today, Keiper is the global market leader for standardized backrest recliners.

The range of Keiper products presented at the trade show in Shanghai includes seat structures and seat mechanisms produced at the Keiper plant in Qingpu, Shanghai and supplied to customers in China and the Asia/Pacific region, as well as a series of innovative products that will soon be supplied to these markets. Among the front seat models presented by Keiper at Auto Shanghai is a power-assisted driver's seat structure with memory feature that is produced in Asia for a variety of Mercedes-Benz models. This platform-compatible design consisting of a base structure with manufacturer-specific add-on modules and enhanced functional features represents one of the company's pioneering efforts. In 2003, Keiper signed a recordsetting supply contract with DaimlerChrysler.

The rear seats on display at the Keiper exhibition stand include a second row outer seat structure used in the VW Touran and produced for the Chinese market. This model combines lightweight construction with outstanding functionality. The seat can be folded forward, collapsed or removed from the vehicle. It offers fore/aft adjustment and uses standardized Keiper components. This concept exemplifies Keiper's expertise in designing variable rear seat structures.

Keiper Lock 2000® Backrest system

Most of the Keiper mechanisms presented at Auto Shanghai are based on standardized products from the Keiper 2000 range. The Taumel 2000® recliner has been available in China for more than 10 years and can be found in models ranging from subcompacts to luxury cars. These highly successful Keiper products have been installed over 500 million times in new cars. Keiper supplies the Lock 2000® Backrest system produced at the company's plant in Shanghai to customers in China, Japan and India. This component is used to anchor rear seat backrests to the vehicle body. A new heavy-duty version is included among the innovations on display at the Keiper exhibition stand. Production of this mechanism is currently being launched at the Keiper plant in Shanghai for customers in China and Korea. The company's trade show portfolio is rounded off with the newest generation Track 2000® seat track system in various load versions along with the innovative Lever 2000® Disk, a space-saving pawl and sector recliner from the Keiper 2000 product range.

Keiper  rear seat structure

Keiper GmbH & Co. KG provides engineering services and specializes in the development and production of vehicle seat structures and components. Based in Kaiserslautern, Germany, the globally active company generated sales totaling €808.6 million in 2008 (2007: €915.6 million). Keiper has a workforce of around 6,000 employees in 10 countries.

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