11/11/2014
RNLI CHOOSE PNU-ERA SHOCK-FLOW SEATING
Park It Here Products Ltd announce the securing of a significant contract to fit the RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat fleet with their unique and patented shock mitigating seating system, Pnu-Era Shock Flow.
Under the EU ‘Vibration Directive (2002/44/EC)’, operators of high speed marine vessels now have a legal responsibility to protect their crews, employees and passengers against the harmful effects of shock and vibration during operations at sea. In response to this directive, the RNLI has elected to fit proven shock mitigating seating alongside existing crew training, fitness and education programmes to fulfil their duty of care to their volunteer crew, staff and trainers.
Pnu-Era Shock Flow seats have provided the solution with a revolutionary pneumatic seating structure designed and developed by Park it Here Products and manufactured by Stylex Auto Products Ltd, the licensed manufacturing partner. Stylex was selected by Park it Here Products to refine and manufacture the finished system based on their extensive experience in engineering automatic seating and trim solutions.
After its earliest inception used in a child seat – the Travel Angel – the Pnu-Era shock mitigation technology was later tested under controlled and monitored MOD mine blast conditions. The results exceeded expectations and proved that Pnu-Era shock mitigation technology compared very favourably to the preferred suppliers of existing speciality designed mine blast seats. This prompted the approach to the RNLI to utilise the same technology to address the problem of Whole Body Vibration on their fleet of Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboats.
Steve Austen, Head of Engineering Support at the RNLI said: “The safety of our volunteer crews, who willingly put to sea when most other vessels are seeking shelter, is of paramount importance to our charity. Hence the risk of exposure to damaging shock and vibration is greater than the average commercial or recreational boat operator. We are proud of the outstanding reputation we have for crew training and safety and we are confident that the new Pnu Era Shock-Flow seating will be an invaluable addition to the safety systems we already have in place for all our sea going vessels and equipment.”
The technology employed in the ultra-lightweight Pnu-Era Shock-flow seat system, has applications not just for the Marine industry but across other sectors such as Automotive – commercial and private vehicles, Military vehicles and Aerospace.
The design, specifically for the RNLI, was developed over the past 3 years by Park it Here Products with extensive RNLI trials. Following the testing in rigorous and independently verified sea-trials carried out by the RNLI, the new marine seating system has recorded a significant reduction in the effect of boat accelerations on crew. The RNLI seats are extremely lightweight, strong and are a direct replacement to existing inshore lifeboat seats so there is no requirement for a change in the deck layout and there is no adverse effect on operational role. However, the seats cost no more to manufacture and fit than those they are replacing, making them a practical and affordable new build and retrofit option.
Importantly the Pnu Era seating has been designed to be highly durable in the marine environment with an extended lifecycle verses foam seating. It is resistant to fuel and oil, is 100% waterproof and totally recyclable.
Simon Dickinson, CEO, Park It Here Products commented: “The RNLI’s Engineering Office set us a tough challenge to tackle the problem of ‘Whole Body Vibration’ on board their fleet of Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboats. After successfully developing a prototype incorporating the proven shock mitigation system and passing rigorous static and dynamic testing, we are delighted to be able to licence Stylex Auto products Ltd to deliver the Pnu-Era seating system for the Atlantic 85s remaining new build and refit programme. These offer considerable cost and weight savings compared with existing alternative suspension seating systems.”
