The Revolutionary Safety of Cybex Car Seats and the Contribution of Franz Peleska

Cybex Releases Revolutionary Child Car Seat with Airbag Technology

Vienna, Austria – Franz Peleska, a renowned expert in child car seat safety, has unveiled a groundbreaking new product that promises to revolutionize the industry. Peleska, who holds several patents related to child car seats, has been working in the Austrian automobile club AMTC since the mid-1980s, conducting safety system tests. His expertise lies in designing seats for small passengers. He developed the testing methodology and conducted the first crash test in 1987. After nineteen years at AMTC, Peleska was recruited by Martin Po, the charismatic CEO of Cybex, in 2005. Po aimed to manufacture the safest child car seats in the world.

For the past decade, airbags have been a fundamental safety feature in vehicles, protecting adult passengers from serious injuries in the event of an accident. Since its establishment in 2005, Cybex has had a vision of creating car seats that would make this technology accessible to children. The development of their latest seat, the Anoris T i-Size, took ten years to complete.

Peleska, a charismatic man who proudly embraces his Czech roots, claims to have surpassed the rest of the world in this field. He attributes his seat’s success to the airbag technology it incorporates, as well as its overall construction. “The seat itself is undoubtedly very safe, but the airbag is one of its crucial components. I believe that even without the airbag, it would still be one of the best in its category in terms of child protection,” Peleska explained.

While the technology in the seat places it in a higher price range, Cybex believes that considering its features, it offers excellent value for money. The company has intentionally set the price lower than their profit margin would allow, aiming to showcase their capabilities and technical possibilities. They want to prove that it is possible to provide the same level of protection in forward-facing seats as in rear-facing seats. Peleska draws a parallel to the introduction of airbags in cars fifty years ago, when Mercedes offered them as a cutting-edge technology in their high-end models. Today, airbags are a standard feature in every car. Cybex is working to make this technology more affordable, which will depend on production volume and sales.

When asked about the most challenging aspect of the seat’s development, Peleska emphasized the fine-tuning of the airbag activation. Just like in a car, the airbag must not inflate too early and must respond correctly to different situations. It should not activate unnecessarily. The seat underwent testing in various scenarios, including deep water immersion. Laboratories worldwide subjected it to extreme conditions.

Peleska has over thirty years of experience in the field, and he reflects on the changes he has witnessed. “I conducted my first crash test in 1987. Cars were different then, without airbags, and they were more delicate. Child car seats were present, but securing the child was not as advanced, and we struggled with neck injuries. The first significant change was the introduction of three-point harnesses and less rigid shoulder straps, allowing the body to move forward with the head, reducing strain on the neck. The design has changed less; it is still a kind of shell securely fastened in the car. The seats had more complex adjustments and headrests. Safety has gradually improved, with one or two percent each year. There was no breakthrough or significant improvement until the introduction of airbag technology, which I believe is happening now. We benefit from collaboration with experts from various fields and, most importantly, rapidly advancing electronics. In the case of car seats, the control unit checks thousands of times per second whether the airbag needs to be activated.”

The issue of materials used in car seats has been a topic of concern for the past fifteen years, with many manufacturers failing tests for harmful substances. Peleska explains that it is challenging to produce a seat without chemicals due to various requirements and the need to treat materials. Fire resistance is a significant challenge, as car interiors can reach temperatures of up to eighty degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer, with ample sunlight. Many problems need to be addressed, and chemicals are unavoidable. Each process must be precisely calibrated, and every component must be perfectly accurate, which slows down production. Testing is also a costly endeavor. The German consumer organization Stiftung Warentest selects thirty out of thousands of different substances to test each year, but manufacturers do not know which ones will be tested, so they must test their products for all thirty substances. This is a significant financial burden for all manufacturers. Components come from various suppliers worldwide, and constant testing is necessary. Sometimes it is a struggle, as they operate on the threshold of values, in extremely low concentrations.

Regarding the demand for eco-friendly products, Peleska confirms that sustainability is a significant concern for their customers. However, creating a child car seat without chemicals is not a simple task. Due to various requirements and the need for materials to be treated, chemicals are necessary. The production process must be precise, and every component must be accurately made, which slows down production. Peleska acknowledges that the industry faces challenges in this area.

Cybex’s latest child car seat, the Anoris T i-Size, is set to make waves in the market with its innovative airbag technology and commitment to child safety. Peleska’s expertise and dedication to improving child car seat safety have undoubtedly contributed to this groundbreaking product.A Czech engineer, Franz Peleska, has developed a breakthrough child car seat that offers 50% more protection than traditional forward-facing seats. Peleska, who has several patents related to child car seats, worked at the Austrian automobile club AMTC from the mid-1980s, where he focused on safety system tests. His expertise became child car seats for small passengers, and he developed a testing methodology and conducted the first crash test in 1987. After nineteen years at AMTC, Peleska was recruited by Martin Po, the charismatic CEO of Cybex, in 2005. Po wanted to manufacture the safest child car seats in the world.

For the past decade, airbags have been a fundamental safety feature in vehicles, protecting adult passengers from serious injuries in the event of an accident. Since its establishment in 2005, Cybex had a vision to make this technology accessible to children. The development of their latest car seat, Anoris T i-Size, took ten years. Peleska’s team conducted tens of thousands of simulations and physical tests to ensure its safety.

Peleska attributes the success of the seat to its airbag technology and its overall construction. He believes that even without the airbag, the seat would still be one of the best in terms of child protection. Although the seat falls into a higher price category due to its advanced technology, Cybex believes it offers great value considering its features and has set the price relatively low to showcase their capabilities and technical possibilities. They aim to prove that forward-facing seats can provide the same level of protection as rear-facing seats. Peleska compares this to the introduction of airbags in cars fifty years ago, which were initially seen as a luxury feature but eventually became a standard safety component.

The most challenging aspect of the seat’s development was fine-tuning the airbag activation, determining the right moment for it to deploy. Similar to airbags in cars, it should not inflate too early and must respond correctly to different situations. The seat underwent testing in various scenarios, including deep water immersion and extreme conditions in laboratories worldwide.

Peleska has over thirty years of experience in the field and has witnessed significant changes. Cars have evolved with the introduction of airbags and deformable zones. Child car seats have also improved, with the introduction of five-point harnesses and less rigid shoulder straps, allowing the body to move forward with the head, reducing strain on the neck. Design-wise, the seats have remained relatively similar, serving as a secure attachment within the vehicle. Adjustability and headrest support have become more complex. Safety improvements have been gradual, with incremental advancements each year. Peleska believes the introduction of airbag technology is a significant breakthrough that will further enhance safety. Advanced electronics play a crucial role, with the seat’s control unit analyzing thousands of data points per second to determine if airbag deployment is necessary.

The issue of materials used in car seats has been a topic of concern for many manufacturers. ADAC, the German automobile club, tests the safety and harmfulness of materials used in car seats. Despite this, some seats on the market still contain chemicals. Peleska acknowledges that creating a chemical-free seat is not easy due to various requirements and the need to treat materials. However, he emphasizes the importance of minimizing harmful substances and continuously improving safety standards.

Cybex’s Anoris T i-Size car seat represents a significant advancement in child car seat safety. With its innovative airbag technology and meticulous testing, it offers enhanced protection for children in forward-facing positions. Peleska’s expertise and dedication to child safety have contributed to the development of this groundbreaking product.

How does the groundbreaking airbag technology featured in the Anoris T i-Size contribute to improved child car seat safety

The seat underwent extensive testing in various scenarios, including deep water immersion, to ensure its effectiveness in real-life situations. Peleska’s extensive experience in the field, spanning over thirty years, has allowed him to witness the significant advancements in child car seat safety. He reflects on the changes he has seen, from the introduction of three-point harnesses to the revolutionary airbag technology being implemented now.

The issue of materials used in car seats has also been a concern for the industry, with many manufacturers struggling to meet safety standards and avoid harmful substances. Peleska acknowledges the challenges in producing a seat without chemicals, as various requirements and treatments are necessary. However, he emphasizes that sustainability is a significant concern for customers and that the industry is working towards finding solutions to meet these demands.

Overall, Cybex’s latest child car seat, the Anoris T i-Size, is set to make waves in the market with its groundbreaking airbag technology and commitment to child safety. Peleska’s expertise and dedication to improving child car seat safety have undoubtedly contributed to the development of this innovative product.