Page 13 - Industrial Technology EXTRA - 14th April

mass transit and military seating applications. Many
of the western world’s special-purpose and military
vehicles have seating systems designed by Probatec,
which is also a market leader in table design and
production for such applications, too.
Focusing on the needs described by the train
operators, Probatec investigated a variety of options
and then turned to Bollhoff’s well-proven SNAP-LOC
fastener as its preferred (and, in this case, only)
method of attaching the seat bases to subframes in all
of the carriages of the Rocky Mountaineer.
rank highest on a list of design priorities that will
ultimately lead to a popular and profitable business. Ball and receptor socket
So, when the carriage design teams set to work on This fastener, already used extensively in a wide
the Rocky Mountaineer, they needed to consider variety of applications (including wing mirror mounts
seating systems that were of the highest quality, but on some models of BMW motorcycles and tail light
which also allowed for worn or damaged seats to be cluster mounts on top-of-the-range motorhomes from
replaced quickly, quietly and cleanly, either Burstner), is based on Bollhoff’s ball and receptor
’underway’ while the train was en-route or on socket design. SNAP-LOC® offers significant strength,
turnarounds between journeys. The manufacturers is light, clean and, when installed, is completely
were also keen that replacement parts, such as seat invisible to users. Yet, when required, a seat base can
bases, could be fitted without the need for either be changed by just about any staff member in
special tools or specialist knowledge. seconds, with a secure and guaranteed perfect fit
every time. A damaged unit is simply pulled off and
Wear, tear and breakage the replacement base positioned accordingly, before
With so many passengers expected, planning in being ‘clicked’ into place. An added advantage is that
advance for the necessary rectification caused by SNAP-LOC® also acts as an isolator between the
inevitable wear, tear and breakage was essential. At carriage chassis and the seat base, thus further
the same time, the operators also identified the need reducing any vibration that may be experienced by
for the Rocky Mountaineer to take with it a separate passengers.
carriage containing all the spares likely to be called for Commenting on this latest success for SNAP-LOC,
in the field. Canada is a vast expanse and, should Bollhoff UK Industry Manager Clive Brown observes:
urgent repairs be required, the only way to guarantee “This is just one of many important applications for
access to either a workshop or spare parts is to take SNAP-LOC that have emerged in the transportation
everything with them on the train in their own market recently. As users demand lighter, quieter
carriage. vehicles of all sorts, they are also keen to source
Mindful of a growing list of specifications and simple, durable fasteners that anyone can use in the
requirements for seating, the Rocky Mountaineer field without specialist knowledge, because it is
team engaged with a company called Probatec, based another way of reducing the overall cost to the
in Germany, which has specialist skills and a long customer over a lifetime of use.”
track record of innovation in the field of automotive, www.bollhoff.com

April 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA! • p13