Latest Car News From DIGIADS

Latest Car News

New Car Review Areas

General Car Topics

Johnson Controls Develops and Manufactures a New Floor Console for the Volvo S80


December 2006
 Filed under: VOLVO Car News | VOLVO Headlines

Easy to assembly, versatile and enhanced passenger protection

Burscheid, Germany – 5 December 2006. Many automotive interior components already benefit from a modular construction method in Europe with the exception, so far, of floor consoles. Johnson Controls, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automobile interior systems, electronic systems and batteries, has now developed in conjunction with Volvo the first modular floor console for the Volvo S80. For automakers, the benefits of the new product lie in greater ease of assembly and variant handling, as well as the enhanced ability to integrate electronic components. A special feature is that the new console is built on a magnesium structure that absorbs any side impact sustained in a crash.
The modular structure of such elements as doors, cockpits and overhead systems has long proved its worth in the international automotive industry. The reasons lie in the assembly time saved, as a result of reduced complexity in the production line, and automakers being able to eliminate their material sub component material stock and handling and depot. “Installation on the final assembly line is almost fully automatic,” said Hans Rössle, Business Development Manager Volvo Business Unit of Johnson Controls. For the Volvo S80, this means that the module is delivered “just-in-sequence” to the assembly line at Volvo’s Torslanda plant in Sweden. A robot fits the module into the car through the side door, leaving one worker with only five screws to tighten.

The floor console is delivered as a single unit in this process. It is fully pre-wired and also contains the vertical center stack and information screen, including the control panel, in addition to the central tunnel itself as well as the gear shifter. At the rear, it connects seamlessly with the armrest and the integrated storage department.

Wide range of interior variation guaranteed

“A clear architecture has enabled us to achieve a high level of scalability with the floor console,” said Hans Rössle, referring to the further benefit of module variability. This means that Johnson Controls can give the apparently free-floating center console of the Volvo S80 a plastic, aluminum or wood finish in line with customer preferences. Several variants are also available for the rear console area: in addition to a basic version with or without ashtray, the luxury version gives rear-seat passengers their own audio control unit. “Closed storage compartments are standard in Executive Class vehicles,” said Hans Rössle. “So even the cup-holders in the Volvo S80 are hidden under a roller blind.”

Magnesium structure provides side impact protection

Unlike previous designs using a traditional monocoque construction, the new solution is based on a stable magnesium structure on which all key components are mounted – from the gear change lever to the airbag sensor, plastic frame, decorative elements and armrest. As part of Volvo’s patented SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), the structure also offers passenger protection. In specific terms, any lateral inward impact caused by an accident is transferred via round profiles in the lower seat structure to a metal box integrated into the floor console (“crash box”), which effectively absorbs the energy.

Johnson Controls was also responsible for the floor console in the earlier S80 models, and currently manufactures them for the S60, V/XC 70 and XC90 model series. Johnson Controls and Volvo can look back on a long history of collaboration. Only recently, Volvo awarded the company the “Volvo Cars Award of Excellence”, making it one of the top five of a total of 6,000 automotive suppliers.

Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions with 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers in 125 countries. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls´ automotive product portfolio also includes seating systems, instrument panels/cockpits, door and overhead systems, interior electronics and electrical energy management. The company provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The European headquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. Please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for additional information.

Source: Johnson Controls

Latest VOLVO Headlines

Latest Car News

All images courtesy of and copyright their respective manufacturers, unless otherwise indicated. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any way without the express written permission of their respective owners. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Model news and specifications are presented as provided by manufacturer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DIGIADS. No warranty is made by DIGIADS with respect to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.
Copyright © 2000-2024 DIGIADS Australia All Rights Reserved. Contact Us
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the DIGIADS Privacy Policy and User Agreement. 		Loading...