Driver’s and instructor’s seats will be manufactured to a bespoke design for Tube trains to be built at Siemens Mobility’s pioneering rail facility in Goole.
Quality bespoke interior trim manufacturer I M Kelly Rail & Aerospace (R&A) Ltd is a leading supplier to the rail, aerospace and leisure sectors.
I M Kelly R&A provides everything from seat covers and refurbishments to driver’s seats and interior trim panels for the rail industry, as well as first and business-class pods for airlines.
I M Kelly R&A was awarded the £1.2 million contract to manufacture 188 driver and 188 instructor seats for Tube trains destined for the Piccadilly Line on the London Underground.
The design and testing phase of the project is expected to take 12 months and is now in the detailed design phase.
An extensive testing period ensures the seats meet strict fire compliance and lifecycle requirements and the manufacturing will be spread over four to five years.
I M Kelly R&A has its head office in Kettering Northamptonshire, an area renowned for its high-quality leather skills, and its main production facility near Coventry, a traditional centre of the UK automotive industry.
Sales Director Keith Griffiths said: “We have been involved in various driver seat projects for the London Underground over the years and we’re looking forward to being able to support and supply the new operation at Goole.
It’s great Siemens Mobility is keen to continue investing in UK companies like us and this project has raised our profile within Siemens.
This contract is adding to the longevity of our business and providing further security for our workforce, particularly at this time with the aerospace industry having been affected by the pandemic.”
Mr Griffiths said the company’s seats are unique in terms of operation and adjustment and a bespoke design has been created to meet Siemens Mobility’s higher specification requirements.
He said: “For example, we have demanding weight targets to achieve and we’re looking at innovative ways to make the seats as lightweight as possible, which will assist in minimising the carbon footprint of the trains.”